1.8's are a tool for me for the most part although have run them in the past. In some cases build depending they work well and worthy. Others not and gain not worthy. Never had valvetrain issues with them. It like 14 apache mentioned in your application gains would more than likely be minimal. I'd seriously consider 741 cam in your build.

If I could find a couple used 741 cams I would. I am opting not to mill my heads which will affectively put me at 8.6:1 compression. I dont want to hurt flow. I will be bore notching the cylinders though. Is compression too low for that cam?? Figure the .5 im giving up by not milling is only 20-30hp max and if i want to do blowers later compression wont be too bad

You have a 4.25 stroke engine. 8.6:1 is low, but pretty much same thing mercury used on the 525efi, 502 mags,, etc. Those were 4 inch stroke. A 4.25 stroke will require more camshaft.

I personally think that cam is going to be small in that build. Mercs 525efi, had a 236/244 cam with fairly low static. They run great. If you wanna make some power, youll need a cam that doesnt die at 5000-5200rpm.

I bought the comp ultra pro mag XD rockers last winter. So far so good. They look very beefy compared to the old cranes I had. I too ran cranes for years, had good luck, only 1 broke a trunnion. Then again, years back, we were running alot less spring psi, lot less rpm, milder cams, and so on.

Do those rockers clear the stock valve covers on gen vi

Im guessing you are running a flat top piston? If the block was 0 decked, with the eq heads, should be right about 9:1 off the top of my head with a .039 gasket

is that what you have ?

I have not tried that . Cant say.

I too would stay with the 1.7 rockers. The 1820-16 have billet pushrod inserts, those are the ones i am running. The 1620-16, do not, and go for around 300-320 bucks if i recall , 100 bucks less than the 1820-16.

The lock nuts did not clear my stock genvi valve covers. Close, a thicker cork gasket might of worked, but I bought the Hardin units instead.

Flat tops. 020 in hole. 3cc reliefs 119 heads. Gonna run steel shim gasket to keep compression up and quench in check.

Good to know