Benefits of rocker arm swap?

[N/ALS1]

What would be the benefits of a racker arm swap? I have 1.7 and want to go to 1.8. Now when you I calculated that to my setup it pushed the lift to .556from .525, my springs are good to .600 lift. The heads are 243's that have no milling to them at all. And I'm running a stock bottom end. What other mods should be done to support the swap? Are my pushrods gonna be fine? Thanks for the input.

[TRPLXL2]

In for answers, I was wondering this as well.

[kerrige]

Most people around here are not big fans of rocker arm swaps. The guys that have all out builds do it, but besides those builds next to know one goes through with it. It is recommended to do the trunion upgrade, but most will just tell you to get a bigger cam and not do the rockers. The stockers are used on many 600+hp builds. I think a lot of the reason is that its not really worth the money to squeeze out the extra lift. I try to live by a rule for modding if it cost is more than $20/hp gained it better have other great benefits.

[zeake]

Nothing gives 20/hp gains except maybe nitrous and that can lead to a severe loss.

[kerrige]

Nothing gives 20/hp gains except maybe nitrous and that can lead to a severe loss.

Tune is $300 and gives average 20 hp that is $15/hp. Long tube headers from Calspeed also $300 about 15hp also $20/hp. Cam swap $750 about 75hp $10/hp.
Yep your our right.

[zeake]

Tune is $300 and gives average 20 hp that is $15/hp. Long tube headers from Calspeed also $300 about 15hp also $20/hp. Cam swap $750 about 75hp $10/hp.
Yep your our right.

OK Ok you got me but past that not much will. Right? I obviously have not done the math on those things. Also how do you calculate the supporting mods. Rear end that will grenade. The transmission that will also grenade. Those are the killers that cost a ton that make me think 20/hp wont happen.

[ecld_07]

I think supporting mods are known to be expensive. But as far as power gained vs money spent he has a good point.

[zeake]

I think supporting mods are known to be expensive. But as far as power gained vs money spent he has a good point.

I agree completely. I never did the math before I shot my mouth off. LOL

[kerrige]

Nah you are completely right, but generally those kinds of mods feature the other major benefits that I was referring to. Sorry should have made that clear. You are right big mods are much more expensive. Turbo's big motors etc are way way more expensive. For the basic mods though I try to stick to that rule. If you are doing a complete build(turbo, big motor, etc) I don't count gains, but rather total horsepower/cost. So like if a motor/turbo build costs 10k I would want at least 500hp.
As for supporting mods I feel like the supporting mods would generally have performance as well as reliability benefits.
Rear end- Locker+gears=reliability+better 60'+traction
Transmission- built+stall=reliability+better 60'
I know many many of us have spent way way more than $20/hp. I just try to live by that rule. I am as guilty as anyone of breaking that rule.