I found this in another forum:

Quote:

Rollerrockers: Our engines have rollerrockers which the pushrods hit and they move like divets opening and closing up the valves... 95-97 2.2L OHV engines have 1.5 ratio roller rockers and this can be improved upon with 1.6 ratio roller rockers. The 1.6 RR not only give your engine more lift and act like adding a mild cam to your engine, but also are roller tipped to reduce friction, the stock ones do not have roller tips... this mod will make your engine run smoother and give quicker acceleration from 3500RPM on up and also make the power kick in right away instead of a 2 second pause before the power hits on these engines. Competition cams is one brand I recommend, but the sets are only sold in sets of 8 or 12, and you only need 8, so plan on selling the extras or finding a buddy to go in with you on it.

After this summer, I'll have a full intake, full exhaust and motor mounts (I've got a 96 2.2, by the way). With any luck, I'll have started on my suspension as well (sway bars, strut braces).

I figure with most of the bolt-ons out of the way, it might be time to start looking into engine internals. Granted, I don't really know much about RollerRockers, but even if I end up getting them it probably won't be 'till next fall or later. So, I figure I've got plenty of time to learn. This picture from Howell Automotive makes them look fairly easy to get to, being right under that top plate on the motor (sorry, I'm not sure what it's called)

What sort of work would I bet getting myself into? The directions at howell automotive seem a bit over my head, but I'm willing to learn. If not, how much might a mechanic charge for something like this? Also, I heard that replacing the pushrods is a good idea if you're going to be replacing the rockers. Umm ... if anyone can point me in the right direction, or give me some tips, I'd be greatful.

if you going to do a full head build up like me.....consisting of

valves, springs, pushrods, roller rockers....then take it to a machine shop, the charge should not be bad. and besides you need to take it to a machine shop to get work done anways. <br>

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I'm really not sure yet, honestly. Two months ago I didn't even know how an engine worked, so this is all fairly new to me. I don't really know enough about the internals. For example, would roller rockers alone be a decent upgrade, or would they be wasted on stock internals?

its a good question, and i have no clue.

i think it depends on what you want to accomplish with the engine.....be it nitrous, FI, or NA.

and i feel you, 5 months ago i didnt know what the inside of my cylinder head looked like, but now i can take it apart and put it back together like its nothing. <br>

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The top plate you're talking about is called a Valve cover. Putting these on by yourself shouldn't be hard at all. You just need a little mechanically inclined

All you have to do is remove your Stock Intake Tube by loosening 2 screw clamps and sliding the tube off, the part of the tube that slides onto the throttle body will be a little hard to remove b/c there is a lip that the throttle body mouth slides into on the inside of the stock tube, but a flat head screw driver will solve that. Set that aside. Then remove 6 or 7 screws that are holding the valve cover on. Once those are out you can lift off the valve cover.

One thing tho, the cover might resist coming off a little due to the gasket and the gasket sealer on there....so you might have to knock it once or twice with a block of wood and a hammer (DO NOT DIRECTLY HIT THE COVER WITH A HAMMER OR PRY IT LOOSE WITH A SCREW DRIVER, you could risk damaging the cover or the gasket matting surface which can result in leaks and engine damage further on down the road) Once it's loose just lift it off and you'll see the rocker arms, push rods and valve stems. To remove the rocker arms you remove the center nut that holds them on (1 per rocker arm) and they'll slide right off. Once those are off you can just simply slide the push rods right out of the engine by pulling up on them....there's nothing holding them into the engine except the cam shaft and Lifter combo and the rocker arms at the opposite end of the push rod. Then follow those instructions you found for the aftermarket ones to install the new rockers and then put the valve cover and intake on by reversing what you did to take it off Hope this helps <br>

Michael

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Wow, that does help! Thanks a lot, Inky! Replacing the rockers doesn't seem like it's too hard at all.

well.....technically on the 2.2l.....its the "rocker cover".....but im not gonna get into that

Ps a couple more things just incase you don't know. Make sure you have a torque wrench, socket set and a haynes or chiltons manual so you can get the torque specks for the rocker nuts and torque them down properly.

And one final thing on putting the valve cover back on. Make sure you buy gasket remover from the auto store and use it to remove traces of the old gasket and any gasket sealer residue....you want to make the surfaces completely clean. Spray the gasket sealer on according to the instructios on the can....and then use a lint free shop towel ( you can cheat on the lint free part) to wipe away the old gasket...don't use any type of scrubing pads (Like brillo pads) or sand paper to remove it as it will damage the gasket surfaces, unless you know how to properly sand them. Buy a new valve cover gasket ($6 at the auto store) and gasket sealer. Follow the instructions on the gasket sealer can to coat the replace the new gasket. And your set <br>

Michael

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Thanks a lot for again for the info. This is definitely all new to me.

i thouht you were not suppost to use any type of gasket sealer......i know i didnt when i rebuilt my head... <br>

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If there is gasket "residue" left on the valve cover sealing surface try some acetone first, its cheaper than gasket remover. If you need to scrape anything off, don't use anything made of steel, if available, use a piece of copper water pipe beaten flat on one end to scrape gasket mating surfaces. <br>

I've been doing some more research. Over at the ny-jbodies library, there's a little install guide for the 1.6 rocker arms. They talk about grinding the pushrod guideplate. anyone know what that's about? thanks.

from the ppl i talked to, they didnt have to do any modification to get em to in. but i dont know. <br>

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I read in an old post that people who had 'em had to grind the pushrod guide plate so that the pushrod didn't bend. Anyone know what I'm talking about?

the rocker arms for the older 2.2 is def different from the 2200 one howell automotive sells...


to install the howell automotive set, you have to go down and do top dead center on each one, intake, then exhaust.

you also have to grind down on the vavle cover....thats it really.

its something someone can normally do in an hour.

and 2200's, we dont have pushrod plates luckily.



i like my rockers, although in the closet right now, with brian mayers set as well. but a few peole who have installed them on nothing but stock engines and noticed a good gain
<br>

website these can be purchased from?
<br>

http://www.howellautomotive.com or

http://www.howellautomotive.com/Howell/Store/catalog/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=41_154_317&products_id=1232

<br>

u can also get the rockers from summit i believe, atleast for the 95-97 2.2s. <br>

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and i think for a lllllot cheaper, but dont hold me to it, i need to do some research and find em. <br>

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alex16cav wrote:u can also get the rockers from summit i believe, atleast for the 95-97 2.2s.

yeah but you have to buy a set of 16, of which 8 you will not need...

hence you will pay the same for double and still have to sell the rest... check the directions on the ny j-bodies site, it states that...

also you still have to get the rocker studs and such...

i;ve already priced it... i would have been paying more...
rtying to piece everything together since they sell in sets of 16.
<br>

you can buy in singles that is how i brought them from comp cams. about 11 a piece.
<br>

oooh maybe that was were the guy told me to get em, direct, haha. <br>

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Here's a question: Seeing as this is all new to me, where exactly are the guideplates ,and what do they look like? I'm nervous about my ability to grind these down properly. Also, where do grind on the vavle cover?

Ant wrote:you can buy in singles that is how i brought them from comp cams. about 11 a piece.

the ones in the pictures arent from comp cams though...

you're thinking the 95-97 2.2




The NPS, guideplates are shown only inside the 95-97 2.2 head.... they are as said. a plate that guides the pushrods...


the 98+ engines do not have em...

if you refer to the howell automotive site, if you have the 2200, the site shows where you have to grind the valve cover, its in the description. link to a picture. <br>

RR and some other goodys that Mantapart sells:

We have a new roller cam profile for the later '94-'97 engines that doesn't require new lifters either. Lifters should be replaced if engine has high mileage. OP 1149R $200.00
OP 1149RL $225.00 '98 & Up 2200



OP 1153R Sports Roller Tip Rocker Arms: Add these special steel roller-tip rocker arms & studs for a nice power gain. Extra valve lift ratio and less friction gives a nice torque and power gain.

OP 1153R $200.00
OP 1153RL $275.00 '98 & Up 2200

Chris