Aftermarket rods w/new rockers

you can use them without aftermarket pushrods but for best performance you might want to get them, but for sure you would have to use aftermarket valve springs, for 1.9's intense recommands ls6 medium load springs

If your running gen3's get the OR rods otherwise stockers are fine.

Look at it this way too. You are already there. Once you remove the rocker arm, its just a matter of grabbing the stck push rod and pulling. Then replace with the new one. I bet you will kick yoruself later if you dont do it.

Merc said:

Look at it this way too. You are already there. Once you remove the rocker arm, its just a matter of grabbing the stck push rod and pulling. Then replace with the new one. I bet you will kick yoruself later if you dont do it.

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You also have to pay for the new pushrods!

Stronger valve springs and OR rods are recommended due to valve float you will probably experience (especially if you get an aftermarket pcm) without them.

Stock pushrods are pretty decent pieces. 1.9 rockered cars can benefit from the thinner 5/16" aftermarket pushrods to give more clearance from where the stockers can touch and rub against some casting flash on the cylinder heads but strength wise they're fine IMHO.

Valve springs though, I'd spend the extra bit to get them done. Most are ok but the few broken springs out there can leave ya a little concerned.

I agree with Merc, you are already right there and its so easy to replace them with the rockers off. Besides, I've heard first hand what valve float is like...UGLY!

Besides the reasons already mentioned, It's generaly recomended to replace used valvetrain components to minimize wear on the parts as well.
In otherwords, new parts should break in together so they will last long... not with old worn parts with 75k miles on them...

Pushrod wear surfaces are minimal, but they are small and under a lot of pressure.

New cam lobes for example, running on worn lifters would tend to wear faster by comparison.

In the end you'll be glad if you do it right, rather than have saved a few bucks and have problems.

P.S. Dont re-use the TTY rocker bolts either.

Technically no, you do not NEED them. But they are definitely a good ancillary part if you can afford it.

These guys seemed to have covered it pretty well.