[TGSI Racing]

Latest update

I've gotten some schedule feed back. It looks like 6-8 weeks for production. I'm not happy with that long, so I'm working on some stuff to shorten the time.

I'm also working on the lifter vs lifter cap problem. (Cost vs fit). The lifter cap problem is that there are at least 4 different size "stock" lifters. (Rally Bob mentioned this in the other Roller Cam thread). So I am concerned that I can't come up with a "one size fits all" cap.

Lastly, I'm waiting on some bids for fabrication on some of the various pieces. (Trying to shorten schedule & lower cost)

I'm pretty sure there are enough folks "signed up" to make the group by "go". (Actually a couple of extras in case a couple "fall out"). So as soon as I get the final details/cost worked out... later this week hopefully... I'll be requesting deposits from those who are "in". If you have not emailed me directly yet, now is the time. [email protected]

 

[garrymc]

Hi,
I have been watching this thread and have a few questions. My “big valve” head has hydraulic lifters. I would like to stay with hydraulics. I still need to fully tear it down so I can see what I have.

Don’t go out of your way to accommodate me.

1) Will these work with hydraulic lifters?
2) Will the valve cover clear the hood on a stock GT?

You can see that head here…
http://www.opelgt.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1461&perpage=15&pagenumber=2

and here….
http://www.opelgt.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1964
I would appreciate your ideas on that valve clearance issue I have.

Garry

 

[RallyBob]

I *think* that because TGSI is offering the roller rocker arms as a performance enhancement the majority (if not all) of those buying them will be running solid lifter cams. Back when I had the original roller rocker arms made and sold them, I had allowed for some people wanting to utilize hydraulic lifters. Out of all the sets I sold, three people opted for the hydraulic lifter 'option', which was simply a flat insert that replaced the OEM Opel dimpled insert at the top of the hydraulic lifter. As a result, I still have quite a few hydraulic inserts left over.

So, even is TGSI decides NOT to produce the inserts, I still have some I could sell you so you could keep your hydraulic cam and lifters. Heck, you don't even need to remove the lifters from the head to swap the inserts!

In regards to the valve cover spacer, I found that all that was needed to allow for rocker arm clearance was an 1/8" spacer and another gasket to sandwich the spacer. Plenty of under-hood clearance left....

Bob

 

[madhatterpdc]

The time frame on delivery is a very low priority for me. I have penned this to my winter project log, so a few weeks are not critical to me.

Does that help at all? Is anyone else in the same boat?

 

[72opelguy]

ok great i never paid attention if they worked with hydraulics or not but anyway
i have a 72 that has hydraulic right
but where can i get new solid lifters i would much rather go that route

 

[TGSI Racing]

72opelguy... If you want solid lifters, then the best thing to do is get a new cam and lifters along with the roller rocker arms.

Besides cost, one of the goals of the "lifter caps" was to make the cap so that it could be used with either solid or hydraulic lifters... sort of "one size fits all". (Really 2 sizes.... one for stock length valves and one for Chevy valves. With Chevy valves, a different total lifter height is necessary to maintain the correct rocker arm geometry. So, at least for now, I have not given up on the lifter cap and the one size (2 sizes) fits all goal.

Rally Bob is correct about the valve cover clearance. As it stands, the rocker arms will come with an "installation kit" which will include the stuff (spacer, gaskets, bolts, etc.) to do the complete installation. As is intended with all my "kits" you should not have to buy (or fabricate) anything else to do the installation. With the "installation kit" there is no problem with interference between the valve cover and the hood.

 

[72opelguy]

ok thanks
i was planing on getting a better cam and have head work done with larger valves so i guess i will go with chevy valves also

 

[TGSI Racing]

I'm still waiting on some bids to get back so it has become obvious that I am not going to be able to wrap this up before the 1rst. So, I'm going to have to "slip" this about 10 days.

Also, it's a big race week-end, so I won't be posting any more info or answering emails until Monday.

 

[TGSI Racing]

GREAT NEWS!!!! With some help from Keith (Propmark) who is a mechanical engineering wizard, I have solved the last of manufacturing concerns I had.

So, the Roller Rocker Group buy is "on"

The final price will depend on how many people sign up for the group buy. Here is the pricing structure:

5 to 8 $485 per set
9 to 12 $450 per set
13 to 20 $420 per set
21+ $400 per set
(Note that based on the response I have had, I think we will be doing good to get into the 9 - 12 range.)

Every one who has emailed me to "sign up" should have already received an email with deposit ($250) information and solid lifter info. (New solid lifters are an extra cost option for those who are going to replace their cam along with the rocker arms.) If you did not get the email or if you want to sign up, send me an email:
[email protected]

 

[72opelguy]

thats great whats the deadline?

 

[ConreroGT]

ahhhhhh....performance parts are like Kryptonite to me.....must-have-roll-er-rock-ers.......

what to do, what to do........

 

[TGSI Racing]

I have received 6 confirmed orders so far. So today I "turned on" the manufacturing process.

I'm not sure on the deadline. I will have the "first article" parts back in about 2 weeks. ("First articles" are made using the actual CNC & machining programs that will be used to do the production run. This is done to verify that all dimensions and tolerances are held to.) So, I don't have to specify quantity until after I receive and verify the first articles.

HOWEVER, the deadline also depends on how the deposit is being paid. I am accepting either personal checks via snail mail, or paypal. Except that I am passing on the paypal fee that I get hit with (2.9% + $0.30 charge). So I'm going to give time for the checks to get here and clear the bank. That should be about 2 weeks.

So, those who are sending checks need to contact me right away. Those who use paypal (and take the $7.55 extra "hit" for the paypal fee ) will have a couple of weeks.

 

[RallyBob]

Bob D., a quick question. Is it possible to get a set of rollers (the flanged valve end) for the original run of rocker arms, as well as the crosspins? I have a set of roller rocker arms that sustained some damage from overtightening of hydraulic lifters (roller tips did not rotate therefore they were flat-spotted). These are 9mm by the way.

Oh, and another thing, I have a former customer in Sweden who may be interested in a large buy-in, he had bought about 15 sets of my old roller rockers over the years, he still likes to use that design but naturally the availability is thin now...in fact he buys them 'back' from customers whenever possible. Do you want his name/number?

Thanks,
Bob L.

 

[72opelguy]

ok thanks for the info
Do you take money orders?

 

[TGSI Racing]

RallyBob... I do have eight from your original batch. Tell me how many of them you need and I'll send them to you. As for your Swedish contact, that would be GREAT!!! Email me at my usual.

72opelguy... and anyone else. Anything that can be turned into real money is OK for the deposit... personal checks, money order, cashiers check, or?

 

[TGSI Racing]

Here's the latest on the group buy.

Actually not much to report. I have received deposits (paypal, or checks in hand) for 5 sets. I have another "checks in the mail" for another 3 sets. That's a total of 8 if all of the "checks in the mail" get here.

I'm going to make the deadline for "checks in the mail" the end of this week and paypal payment one week later. If there is any one who really wants "in" that can't make this schedule, let me know by email ([email protected])

That's all for now

 

[garrymc]

Hi,
I have a head that already has the machine work for Chevy valves done on it. (1.720 intake 1.500 exhaust).

I want to make sure I understand a couple of things.

Chevy valve convertions need a different lifter caps ?
You will make 2 different caps (chevy/opel) ?
Anything wrong with using SB valves we should know about ?

Thanks
Garry

 

[TGSI Racing]

First: Today is the last day for "checks in the mail"... well OK... any checks not received by next Thursday will be too late. If you want "in" and have not contacted me by direct email, [email protected] , you need to do it soon. Those sending checks, contact me now if you have not already told me you're sending checks.

garymc asked about Chevy valves... Yes, I'm making different size lifter caps. So there will be no problem using valve stem length Chevy valves. Gary also asked

Anything wrong with using SB valves we should know about ?

Well, yes and no. The "no" part is with roller rocker arms. Thats the reason I'm making two different size lifter caps... a "chevy" size is used to correct the first part of the "yes" part of this answer.

The "yes" has two parts that are caused by the longer valve stems that the Chevy valves have.. First, the longer stems screw up the rocker arm geometry. For a mental image of this, imagine that they were 1" longer... then think of the angle the rocker arm would be at. Chevy valves are not an inch longer, but they are enough longer to adversely affect stock rocker arms. If you have read about the rocker arms you'll know that they are the weak link in engines that are pushed hard.

The second problem with the longer Chevy valve stems is that you must go to different valve springs and do a bunch of machine work to the head to accept new springs. (Rally Bob even had to machine custom exhaust spring perches for his roller-cam set-up) (Note that new springs are must if you go to a high lift cam... so disregard this second problem if you go to large lifts)

Another draw back (but not a problem) is that they are heavier... not much, but any extra valve train mass hurts.

The "bottom" line is that with the way I (and Rally Bob before me) am doing the roller rocker arms, there is no problem using Chevy valves that you didn't already have.

 

[tomking]

It has been a long time since I ha ve seen anything on the group roller rocker buy. Does anyone know the status of Bob Dennard and roller rockers?? Thanks.

 

[Gary]

I heard that Bob D. was temporarily off line due to major PC problems.