Morgan already knows my specs: 482ci Shelby arruminum with opened up Edelbrocks, 850DP, 10 to 1...

I'm running a flat tappet Clay Smith custom grind with about .680 lift/ 264 @ .050 after dumping the solid roller of about the same specs that had me considering buying bronze futures. Runs like a train, idles smoothly at about 900rpm. 3.31 gears behind a wide ratio toploader. T&D stuff up top.

Sorta goes thump.

Ron,
I always wanted to ask you what failed on the roller setup you had before and do you recall the brand/type of roller lifters used?

Seems Comp, Crane, Crower have all come out with newly re-enginerred ones over the last year or so; different oiling holes/grooves, etc... obviously something had to fixed...Haven't heard any complaints yet on the new stuff that's out now; only time will tell. Like you, i'm on Solid Flat Tappet for now, but possibly considering hydraulic roller for a different motor in the future after seeing how this new FE roller stuff holds up over a period of years of driving on the street.

I'll extend the question concerning if the Edelbrock's came complete. The stock springs are rated only to 600 lift. I would recomend steel shafts, stands on the ends & good roller rockers. I have been happy with the Earson set up with double springs.

Duane

I think hydraulic rollers for FEs have pretty well proven themselves...KC's a big supporter of their use and I think he's put enough of them on the ground to show that they do indeed work well.

Solid rollers...biggest problem was using those little bronze gears, asspecially with high flow oil pumps adding to their strain.

When the lifter's needle bearing let go (who knows why), I had the engine completely torn down and rebuilt exactly as it was...and starting wearing through bronze gears again. Comp has come out with polymer gears to replace them in Chevys and SB Fords, but not FEs...feedback on the Chevy forums show they seem to solve the problem with rapid wear and breakage after extended use, so a future FE fitment would take care of that.

If the needle bearing failure was caused by the lack of oil from splash, then I agree the advances made at getting oil directed at the bearings will help that.

I got to the point that I just didn't want to worry about bearings and gears anymore, so I pulled the perfectly good solid roller cam and put in the flat tappet setup of about the same grind. (the solid roller sits on a shelf) I can live with the expectation of a slow death of a flatening cam versus waiting for tiny little bearing pieces to start banging inside the motor any day. KISS still remains the ultimate universal truth. ;)

In furtherance of KISS, I also pulled that doggone internal hydraulic TOB POS and replaced it with a good ol fork/external slave setup, which can be repaired without tearing half the drivetrain apart.

Next, I'm on the hunt for asbestos brake pads...

To answer a few Questions.
 

Funfer2 and Duane:

Bare Edlebrocks ported and bowls worked over, SFI stainless 2.19 Int. and .175 Exh., Crane springs set at 370-380 pounds(if I recall).

Valve train: POP Billet shafts/Aluminum end support stand and Aluminum Roller Rockers/ Crane Roller Lifters.

Have spoken to a few engine builders who are considered experts around here and they say the cam specs are fine.

Jamo thank just being around to add input. :)

See attached pictures

Get to work buddy, should not have a problem with the parts you have & should rumble.

Kevin

Polymer gear for FE
 

Jamo if you want a polymer gear for an FE, just ask. I will send a private e-mail with the info for you Rick Lake

Thanks Rick...I'm running a non-roller solid now, so it's metal to metal for me. ;)

Hey Morgan,
All seems within reason to me. When I saw your rockers at the track that day, I keep wondering if those lock nuts just backed off or something. Strange thing to me was the one that broke off from the nut side flush with the rocker itself; almost like some kind of faulty material or something. It happens sometimes. Did you find the root cause of what actually happened?

Duane, the adjuster broke
 

So two of the adjusters broke. unfortunately one made it's way down to the oil pan. On the way down the adjuster decided to stop off and visit a cam lobe.:mad:
Pulled the cam this week. Motor is ready to go back together this weekend.

Adjusters were from Jesel. I have all new adjusters from T&D that will be installed in the rockers.

Morgan

That just blows me away that the adjusters would break.

Are they bronze? :p

Hurry up...still some driving weather left. ;)

Putting the motor together tomorrow.
 

They had problems in the past with these jessel adjuster breaking. I should have know something when he came me a spare.%/