I'm with you, a modern rocker is going too feel like a fresh tune up. I also like indestructible, if your going too stick with the stealth head or update too a head that you can swap the same rocker gear over on too. I like the Comp Pro Magnum but they don't offer a 1.6 ratio but they are beefy, I fear aluminum rockers regardless of who makes them...

Since when are ported Stealths that expensive ?!?!?

There not, but I think he is looking too upgrade too a better head at a later date and is looking too be the $2-3000 range for the heads?

Me too. Agree the stamped style is marginal or weak for your application. Run hard, there is decent chance the pushrod will punch a hole in one.

I know you did not ask about rockers... but I think needle bearings on the rocker shaft, if that is what you are considering, is a reliability downgrade. The plain bearing works better and is more reliable at least in a moderate application like yours (and mine). If you really want aluminum, the Hughes would be better. I like steel and run Pro Magnums. The old style pro-magnums are good (bulletproof) up to about .6" lift and corresponding spring pressure. I believe the new ones have a bushing and can take more pressure/lift. My "old style" pro-magnums have 15k miles and track time and no problem at all.

I don't recall saying I was interested in ported Stealth's? 😕 just how much do you think a decent set of ported heads are worth? I'm betting $3000 is not that far off for Eddy's or Indy's.
As far as the rocker choice goes, I hear you guys on the needle bearing thing versus bushings! But how often do the needles fail? I ask because I've never had that happen or seen it myself. I've seen roller pins pop out and ball end adjusters grind to nothing!

My 1.5`s actually measured at 1.54 which made the cam about .020 bigger iirc.............

I've been following this thread for a while and saw your original post that you were going to use the stock rockers and now you may use the 1.6 rockers. My build with my budget is a 440 with stock ly rods with arp bolts, Ross forged pistons, square decked, engle dual hydr cam 232-238 grind 514/532. Elderbrock 84cc heads, dual plane intake, 850 carb. I've been talking to the pros that have done several of these builds and have talked to them about my rocker set up. This build is made to run 1.5 rockers and they tell me unless I have the extra money to blow just run my factory set up that it was a great light weight set up and should never give me any problems and the horsepower gains from their dyno sheet only showed a horsepower gain of up 5hp with roller rockers.I was told to inspect them before I used them. In your case you may see a little more horsepower gain with the 1.6 ratio rocker but as somebody else said I would spend the money somewhere else on your engine until your ready to run the roller rockers and I also plan to run the rollers later down the road when I get the extra money but it's your build so make yourself happy and good luck!