Checked clearance for 1.6 rockers with .480 Comp hyd. cam last summer and had plenty, (didn't record it) don't really want to remove head again, anybody remember clearance on their .528/284? 1971 9.2:1 flat tops .085" in the hole and I'll use 1.5 rockers if it's likely to have enough clearance. Thanks for all input.

The intake lobe center(timing) affects the piston to valve clearances
Any time I'm in doubt, I check it out
When you checked the P to V clearances where you using a solid liter with light pressure checking springs or one of the hydraulic lifters with the valve springs your running now?

I would swap a pair of light checking springs on there with the on head compressor & also use a pair of junk hyd lifters with the cup JB welded at the dimention down from the spring that is the preload that you plan to run (OCD maybe but thats me). that'd be an excellent opportunity to do the myriad of other related clearance checks at the same time then if you are good then you are good & can move on to other areas. Preload/VP clearance/WIPE PATTERN/pushrod to rocker/retainer to rocker/seal to rocker/coil bind/pushrod end view right angle at 50 or 60% lift (see Hughes engines checks)/degree cam. take nothing for granted.

You don't have to pull the head to check piston to valve. Just put two checking springs on it, one pair of rockers and slowly roll the motor. Stopping every so often to push the rocker down by hand and verify it has clearance. Once you KNOW the motor will rotate, then install the dial indicator, roll it again and actually CHECK the numbers

Cab, I used solid lifters and no head gasket with the springs I am running. I used a steel shim gasket instead of the thicker composite one for what little gain in compression it got me. Checked with 1.6 rockers and had alot, wish I'd written it down. I know better than to swap w/o checking, just wondering if anyone got by without reliefs...just looking for a tenth or so for an index class. Thanks for your input.

Monte, I know how to check it w/o removing heads, just don't want to do all that if someone tells me that it will be too close, if someone has gotten by with this combo, I'll do the work. I have a much better engine to use later, car needs other upgrades before I do that, this combo would be short term. Thanks.

So you would rather takes someones word on an internet board, about clearance in YOUR engine, in lieu of checking it yourself. Okay, not the way I would personally approach that, but OK.

LOL...

I run a 305 .525 comp cam with a lot of room left. big vlave 906 heads both decks just checked for flat..

Yeh, it's best to check it....... But...... A mp 528 cam in a 440 with pistons down the hole .085 "shouldn't" be a problem, unless the heads have been milled a bunch.

The down n dirty v2p check is....... After decreeing the cam, put a couple of checking springs in one cyl.
Install rockers, adjust valves, then put about .100 worth of feeler gauges between the rocker and valve.
Turn the motor over in the overlap period of the timing events, and stop every couple of degrees and depress the spring(with the feeler gauges still between the valve and rocker) and see that there is still some clearance.
You'll notice the clearance gets less and less with each added bit of crank rotation, but at some point(around 10deg atdc for the intake, 10deg btdc for the ex) you'll feel the clearance start to grow again.
If this happens you know you have at least the amount of the stack of feeler gauges of v2p clearance.
If you find the clearance goes to zero while you're turning the motor, then you know the clearance is less than the stack, and you can make the stack thinner to get a better idea of what you have.

It's really quick and easy, and doesn't require setting up the dial indicator.

Thanks Dwayne, That's what I was hoping to hear. I had no intention of doing this swap without hearing that it was likely to have adequate clearance. I will check it if I go through with it. Now, has anyone else tried 1.6 rockers with such a small cam? (.480" 284) I tried them but haven't gone back to 1.5 with current combo yet.