Camshaft discussion
- Thread starter nschneider1983
- Start date
Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.
Rusty Nail
Full Access Member
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2015
- Posts
- 9,786
- Reaction score
- 9,679
- Location
- the other side of the internet
- First Name
- Rusty
- Truck Year
- 1977
- Truck Model
- C20
- Engine Size
- 350sbc
Wait a minute..do you aim to tell me there are people that are NOT utilizing magnets on their fuel line?
Srsly?
If you're gonna swap cams all the time, reckon you'll have to get one of them three piece-? timing covers?
That makes the choice eazy between aluminum or zinc. I never seen a zinc one, lol.
Zinc oil pan in a 4x4, aluminum in a 2wd.
Right?
Srsly?
If you're gonna swap cams all the time, reckon you'll have to get one of them three piece-? timing covers?
That makes the choice eazy between aluminum or zinc. I never seen a zinc one, lol.
Zinc oil pan in a 4x4, aluminum in a 2wd.
Right?
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2010
- Posts
- 29,099
- Reaction score
- 23,942
- Location
- Usually not in Ohio
- First Name
- Andy
- Truck Year
- '77, '78, '79, '84, '88
- Truck Model
- K5 thru K30
- Engine Size
- 350-454
I've got zero miles on my engine. One of these days it will get stuck in my truck, which I had always intended to daily drive in the warmer months and take on out of state trips.
I don't disagree on your arguments for why an aftermarket roller can fail. However, I also believe that those exact reasons apply tenfold to a flat tappet lifter. Lifter bore tolorances and oil supply are far more important with a flat tappet than they are with a roller.
Rusty Nail
Full Access Member
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2015
- Posts
- 9,786
- Reaction score
- 9,679
- Location
- the other side of the internet
- First Name
- Rusty
- Truck Year
- 1977
- Truck Model
- C20
- Engine Size
- 350sbc
Begs the question @bucket : did joo install a roller?
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2010
- Posts
- 29,099
- Reaction score
- 23,942
- Location
- Usually not in Ohio
- First Name
- Andy
- Truck Year
- '77, '78, '79, '84, '88
- Truck Model
- K5 thru K30
- Engine Size
- 350-454
Yeah. A mild Comp grind and a set of Howard's lifters. With compatible springs too of course.
shiftpro
Full Access Member
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2012
- Posts
- 4,855
- Reaction score
- 6,086
- Location
- BC Canada
- First Name
- shiftpro
- Truck Year
- 73-87
- Truck Model
- 1500, 2500, 3500
- Engine Size
- 350, 383, 454, 496!
I'm certainly not against retro rollers and wish they were reliable enough for my 496 build. When I button it up I want 150,000 trouble free miles.
Like the factory flat tappet technology provides... providing broke in correctly and the lube grooves and zinc.
I'm not sure lifter bore tolerances are more critical with flat tappets, whereas slight misalignment causes rollers to put more pressure on one side
than the other. Galling rollers or the needle bearing taking a crap seem to be the issues that crop up. I'd be interested in your further insights...
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2010
- Posts
- 29,099
- Reaction score
- 23,942
- Location
- Usually not in Ohio
- First Name
- Andy
- Truck Year
- '77, '78, '79, '84, '88
- Truck Model
- K5 thru K30
- Engine Size
- 350-454
I'm by no means an expert of any kind and this is the first cam I've put in a big block. All others were small blocks. I had read a bunch of stuff online about poor oiling to the lifters on a big block and that with modern oils, a flat tappet cam is unlikely to survive the long haul. And the number of statements like that were overwhelming.
But I've known a lot of guys that have run roller cams successfully on the street. Not daily, but for years of nice weather driving.
I haven't had much trouble with flat tappet cams either... except for one. And that one problem engine was enough to sway me away from flat tappets. So much time and money wasted on that one. And frustration.
