s14 rockerarm stoppers.Good or Bad?

[95s14silvia]

Hey guys so I ordered some rocker arm stoppers the other day thinking that it would be good to have and make it a little safer on the engine. But recently I was told by a fellow user on zilvia that I shouldnt put them on they will only cause lots of problems down the road. I tried to do some research on the negative effects of RAS but couldn't find any. Please let me know what you guys think! Thanks!

[Croustibat]

They are useless, so just dont use them...

[hobbs]

Only bad, when the rockers do come off with a RAS it will jam against the valve assembly and when the piston comes back up you will end up with a bent valve/damaged piston. Rocker arm stoppers have been discussed in length over on sr20forum and the dash, you wont find and FWD guys running them.

[ForeignMuscle]

Hobbs is right. Throw that shit in the trash.

If a rocker arm launches you want to let it go. Not shove it back down between the cam and valve in who knows which position. That can ruin not only the rocker, valve, and cam, but if that valve is pushed down (which it most likely will be because rocker arms don't just bounce off of stoppers and return to their correct position) it will trash your bottom end.

If your going to throw rocker arms then let them fly. Take your valve cover off and at the most you might be out a cam and rocker. A lot cheaper than a new short block..

[codyace]

I too came from FWD land, where RAS were a big no no. However when new with the RWD stuff, it seemed as if everyone back then used them. Me not knowing any different (lesson #10191 don't trust the forums) decided to use them.

30,000 miles later, and thousands of track miles, I have yet to have a single issue with my RAS. Have they ever worked as in tended and kept the rocker on the pads? Hard to say. I know I mis shifted once or twice in that time, but was able to catch it quick enough.

With that considered (hindsite is always 20/20), I would have probably opted not to use them as truthfully speakin I do think the 5% of the time where they may work, the 95% of the other time where it can bind a valvetrain is worse.

Truthfully, the best setup would be to run Roller Rocker lifters and twin guides if you can :D


Only bad, when the rockers do come off with a RAS it will jam against the valve assembly and when the piston comes back up you will end up with a bent valve/damaged piston. Rocker arm stoppers have been discussed in length over on sr20forum and the dash, you wont find and FWD guys running them.

[ForeignMuscle]

Double guides FTW!

Cody, now I'm searching for more info on converting to roller rockers...

[Mikester]

Interesting...

[ForeignMuscle]

Roller rockers is too much work for the gains.

Double guides is where it's at though.

[Mikester]

Could always go solid lifters... not to say the rockers would NEVER come loose, but much less chance than hydraulics... Of course that drives the need for cams, shims etc. May as well re-do the whole valvetrain at that point :)

I ran rocker stoppers religiously as well, never had any issues w/them on countless 6000 - 7000rpm launches, mishifts etc... However I do see the sense in letting a rocker fly vs. get hung up in there. I opted for solids on this build for that very reason.

[mewantkouki]

Run a stiffer valve spring. That pretty much eliminates valve float. I've got hks step 1's 256 and 264 in my s14 sr with supertech singles and I bang it off 8k regularly. Never had a problem.

[cotbu]

RAS to each his own, there are scenarios where they can cause more damage than not having them, but that's with anything. I personally still run them IDK why. I snapped 2 tower bolts and ripped the threads out of holes on the opposite side. shims, guides and rocker never lost position.

As for redesigning that system, I've been thinking about a custom rocker. Made out of solid aluminum or something, eliminating the shim, guide and oem crack rocker. I think the rocker itself is the weakest link. Second runner up, would be the dual guide mod.

When the alignment tech from mr.tire missed a shift and over-reved my shit past 9999rpm, he split the rocker in half. The larger Y piece was still connected by the RAS. The shim and guide AWOL, the other y piece decide I needed a cam regrind.

[codyace]

Roller rockers is too much work for the gains.

Double guides is where it's at though.


Roller rocker Lifters, not a roller rocker system. Bigger oil holes and the sort. Just like the Roller Rocker/B15 tensioner too. Nice safe upgrades.



Run a stiffer valve spring. That pretty much eliminates valve float. I've got hks step 1's 256 and 264 in my s14 sr with supertech singles and I bang it off 8k regularly. Never had a problem.

No way jose. Stiff springs do NOT eliminate float, and can in fact do the opposite, bt inducing float or odd harmonics by having too much seat pressure for the application. Think of it like putting too much spring rate on your suspension...


As for redesigning that system, I've been thinking about a custom rocker. Made out of solid aluminum or something, eliminating the shim, guide and oem crack rocker. I think the rocker itself is the weakest link. Second runner up, would be the dual guide mod.

Dual guide is significantly cheaper/easier.



When the alignment tech from mr.tire missed a shift and over-reved my shit past 9999rpm, he split the rocker in half. The larger Y piece was still connected by the RAS. The shim and guide AWOL, the other y piece decide I needed a cam regrind.

Why on earth was a Mr Tire guy revving the piss out of a customer car.

[ForeignMuscle]

Run a stiffer valve spring. That pretty much eliminates valve float.

Golly gee, thanks for that information :rofl:

Your right to an extent, but it doesn't mean that you wont eventually throw a rocker. Hydraulic lifters are the main weakness outside of the rockers themselves.

I plan on using the dual shim guides with hydraulic lifters for the time being.

VE head is inevitable, but I would like a nice 550whp with my det head.

[ForeignMuscle]

When the alignment tech from mr.tire missed a shift and over-reved my shit past 9999rpm.

I would have been re-aligning someone's head..

Roller rocker Lifters, not a roller rocker system. Bigger oil holes and the sort. Just like the Roller Rocker/B15 tensioner too. Nice safe upgrades.

Do they not require the matching rocker arms which require different length valve stems? I'll do some more research. Feel free to shoot me a pm with more info!:D

[mewantkouki]

No way jose. Stiff springs do NOT eliminate float, and can in fact do the opposite, bt inducing float or odd harmonics by having too much seat pressure for the application. Think of it like putting too much spring rate on your suspension...

I understand putting too much seat pressure on the valve from a really stiff spring but a 75lb spring (supertech single) in an SR head is hardly what I'd call overly stiff. I'm not sure what the factory seat pressure from the stock valve springs but my setup has worked for me quite nicely, but then again I don't really miss-shift at redline regularly. So not doubting you, I'd just like to understand how marginally increasing spring pressure can induce valve float. Seems counter-intuitive. I'd be more worried about breaking a valve or wearing out the valve seat sooner. The later model SR20 engines also have the revised hydraulic lifters in them, never really hear of them collapsing although I'm sure somebody somewhere has managed to.
Golly gee, thanks for that information :rofl:

Your right to an extent, but it doesn't mean that you wont eventually throw a rocker. Hydraulic lifters are the main weakness outside of the rockers themselves.

I plan on using the dual shim guides with hydraulic lifters for the time being.

VE head is inevitable, but I would like a nice 550whp with my det head.
What are you people revving your stock heads too anyway?!?