I've been gathering parts to build a "frankenmotor" - I've got '95 Legacy 2.2 dual port heads with roller rockers and HLAs and will be using a '98 OBW 2.5 block.

 

I was wondering if there was a way to convert these to manual valve adjustment, but keep the roller rockers.

 

I gather that the later ej22s with the manual valve adjustment are NOT roller rockers? Is there any way to replace the HLAs in the roller rocker arms with the adjustment screws?

 

(In case you're wondering why- I don't want to deal with noisy/sticky HLAs of unknown condition on my junkyard heads, and I like the idea of the lower engine friction of the roller rockers and manual adjustment.)

 

Thanks in advance for your thoughts- Nathan

Their over head cam of course their roller rockers I think you should learn a little more about how valve systems work, no offense, but roller rockers are for push rod engine to make less friction like over head cam.

 

Also the 2.2 HLAs are not like they notorious ea82 HLAs they rarely have problems.

Edited April 16, 201312 yr by mikaleda

only the 95 ej22 is roller if I remember right, and you can definitely tell a difference on the wear pattern of the cams looking at the two. but the machine work that would most likely have to happen to do this wouldn't be worth it imo

Doh! I feal like a retard now, I'm so used to the roller rockers on a pushrod engine that I didn't even think about over head cam roller rockers, i retract my earlier statement, sorry.

only the 95 ej22 is roller if I remember right, and you can definitely tell a difference on the wear pattern of the cams looking at the two. but the machine work that would most likely have to happen to do this wouldn't be worth it imo

Yes, I guess you could drill and tap the rocker arms where the HLAs go and put in manual adjusters... you're probably right about the hassle/reward ratio not making it worth the effort. I've got two sets of HLAs, so I can play mix-n-match if some are faulty- I just like the simplicity of manual adjusters, so it's hard to let that go....

All you have to do is swap the cams and rocker assemblies from a 96+ phase 1 head.

 

I just like the simplicity of manual adjusters, so it's hard to let that go....

and i like the maintenance free aspect of the HLAs. i know why they changed, but i don't like it.......

All you have to do is swap the cams and rocker assemblies from a 96+ phase 1 head.

But are the rocker assemblies on the 96+ roller rockers? That's the combo I really want- roller rockers + manual adj lifters.

I'll probably go for Delta camshafts like you did on your Frankenmotor build.  Based on your statement about the need to change the rockers _and_ the camshafts, I'm guessing Delta has different versions for the hyrdo vs solid lifters ...

But are the rocker assemblies on the 96+ roller rockers? That's the combo I really want- roller rockers + manual adj lifters.

I'll probably go for Delta camshafts like you did on your Frankenmotor build.  Based on your statement about the need to change the rockers _and_ the camshafts, I'm guessing Delta has different versions for the hyrdo vs solid lifters ...

 

Yup. 95 was the only year for HLAs and roller rockers. After that they went to SLAs.

95 and 96 are rollers with HLA.

You need 97-98 for rollers with SLA. Possibly an early 99 would have the same heads.

Roller rockers, HLA or SLA, are interchangeable on the same roller cam. Roller cam profiles did not change from 95 to 98.

The tappet cam profiles are different to match the tappet rocker shape. You can not mix and match tappet rockers with a roller cam or roller rockers with a tappet cam.

 

Mikaleda, nearly every overhead cam engine design with rocker arms since the mid 90s uses roller rockers. There are designs without rockers like the DOHC EJ25D heads which are tappet style direct mechanical bucket.

Edited April 17, 201312 yr by Fairtax4me

 

Yup. 95 was the only year for HLAs and roller rockers. After that they went to SLAs.

 

Nope.

 

I;ve got a set of 96 phase II, single port EJ22 here.  They are Roller, and HLA.

 

Honestly, the only roller follwer, solid adjuster setup I've seen to fit these heads was on a JDM 2.0 NA motor I got in a Legacy.  Got those on my 2.2 right now

 

I've heard people say that late ones are roller and solid maybe 97+?  Definately after 99 but those are phase II engines totally different heads.

 

Mikaleda, nearly every overhead cam engine design since the mid 90s uses roller rockers.

Cool thank you for that info. I don't know why I was thinking all ohc engines had roller rockers.

Edited April 17, 201312 yr by mikaleda