I want to keep this thread going until some experts answer. I have the same question using a set of 882 heads from a '76 Corvette 350. I remember a previous thread where Drbowtie said the pushrods will scrape the slots in the heads with 1.6 ratio and high lift. I am about to get working now with warmer weather and one of the first things I want to do is turn over the motor and watch the pushrods in the slots to see if they scrape. Because of the price of gas I am going to use 1.5 roller-tipped rockers on the intakes and 1.6 roller-tipped rockers on the exhausts for a little more torque. I am hoping that since my cam is very mild with only 0.398 lift intake and 0.420 lift exhaust, there will not be any problem. I can answer the question as to side-to-side clearance. The Tech guy at Speedway said there was no need for guide plates with the 882 heads as far as side-to-side play. I hope that the use of only 1.5 roller-tips will still lead to lower oil temps and a cooler-running engine and that the stock 1.5 rockers may not really be 1.5 anyway so a true 1.5 ratio may be a slight improvement? The main thing I will look for is whether the exhaust pushrods (chrome moly) scrape the edge of the guide hole; I 'm hoping they don't.

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder