327 engine with solid roller makes about 475-500 horsepower at 6500. Crower rods and shift points at about 7200 RPM.
I had slightly softer springs installed in the heads and was using a rev kit at the time. Have recently replaced valve springs with recommended (actually, Comp's "first choice") beehive springs.
Is the rev kit still necessary? If I use it, is it adding too much pressure to the cam and lifters?
Thanks in advance.

Depends on the roller bearing used and the amount of lube the roller gets.
If the roller bearing gets a good supply of oil and the camshaft is hardened, go for it.
With as much RPM's you've quoted, you're changing out springs anyway due to fatigue.

A small block turning only 7200 does not need a rev kit if you are using the correct valve springs. Just more parts to break or cause you problems..

What is your spring & cam combo?

A small block turning only 7200 does not need a rev kit if you are using the correct valve springs. Just more parts to break or cause you problems..

What is your spring & cam combo?


Cam is a Comp XR286R (12-772-8). Using Comp roller trunnion rockers, 1.6:1 ratio.
Springs are Comp 26055 installed at 1.920, so seeing about 155 on the seat and 395 at full lift (.610").

Keep in mind, you are .620" on the exhaust with a 1.6 rocker.
You are getting close to coil bind which is 1.195"

Spring pressures should be fine without a rev kit.
Personally I would rather see a 1.5 rocker on the exhaust or a spring rated for higher lift.

Keep in mind, you are .620" on the exhaust with a 1.6 rocker.
You are getting close to coil bind which is 1.195"

Spring pressures should be fine without a rev kit.
Personally I would rather see a 1.5 rocker on the exhaust or a spring rated for higher lift.

Coil bind on the 26055 spring is 1.225.
Lobe lift x 1.6 = 0.6224. Deduct 0.018" lash and the lift is 0.6044.
Installed height is 1.920 - 0.604 = 1.316
This leaves 0.091 margin to coil bind.

7200 rpms in a 327 with those springs? I think you are fine - NO PROBLEM. You are running a rev limiter, right?

7200 rpms in a 327 with those springs? I think you are fine - NO PROBLEM. You are running a rev limiter, right?

Yes. Limited to 7500.
So, you're saying I should or shouldn't use the rev kit?

ARP studs will serve you well if you don't have them already.

A long time ago I raced a 377 sbc with a big (for the time) solid lifter cam....broke a few studs even though the springs were correct and the geometry was dead on.

I can't recall which I did first-install ARP studs or put a stud girdle on-but after I did one I never had another failure. I did the other just for extra peace of mind.

If I were you I would use the rev kit.....better control imo will result in less wear and breakage.

Yes. Limited to 7500.
So, you're saying I should or shouldn't use the rev kit?

Sorry, I wasn't really clear on that. I would run it.

If you decide not to, at least make sure you have good ARP studs and a stud girdle as Michael suggested.

Thanks. I'll use the rev kit.

Yes, I have ARP studs. Change in geometry resulted in my having to use 0.020" longer valves and 0.025" longer pushrods with my new aluminum heads. The rocker studs that I was using before now have room for the lock nuts to thread on 1/4" less than they were before. This means that the rocker lock nuts now thread onto the studs about 7/16" (about equal to their outside diameter).