LS Rocker arm upgrades

[OR VietVet]

Just saw this and decided to post here:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/ent...e-kit/ar-BB16dzhj?li=BBnbfcL#image=BB16dGbp|6

 

[Rocket Man]

It’s a pretty well known upgrade for those of us who have installed high-lift cams. I went with the Smith Brothers kit for my 08 and just used a couple appropriate-sized sockets and my bench vise to install them. It was the second time I installed a kit, the first time was on my 02 but I decided to splurge for the Yella Terra full roller kit because it supposedly adds 25 HP/ 20 TQ. I sold the upgraded stock rockers. I have never heard of people upgrading because of high mileage though. I guess it’s something to consider.
Edit: in case anyone wants to see what the Yella Terras look like:

 

[OR VietVet]

Yea, did not know how long they have been around so I thought I would share. Hope others also post experiences with them.

 

[iamdub]

Another option, and one I'll be going with, is bronze bushed trunnions like Mark has.

Back in 2013, Comp had a needle bearing upgrade kit I bought and installed on some 33K-mile rockers for an LQ9 I was building. I never used them so I put them in my brother's truck when I redid his 5.3 last year. A few months ago, I found that Comp's upgrade kit was having failures that appeared to be due to improper hardening of the trunnion and most failures seemed to be from around that era. Just to be on the safe side, I'll be swapping those rockers for some new OEM ones I bought for my 5.3 and replacing the Comp kit with a bushed kit to go in mine.

 

[Rocket Man]

Here’s the Smith Brothers bronze bushings I just installed in my 08. Pretty easy job.

 

[Chert_Detective]

Yeah I had never really given much thought to people upgrading due to mileage either, kinda makes sense though with how much wear it sees. I have the CHE kit on my stock rockers since I just can't justify the price per gain yet for a set of aftermarket ls3 rockers, but like it's already been mentioned any bronze bush kit will do the job, I would trust Smith and CHE before others though.