Valve lifters…solid/hydraulic/roller tappet/flat tappet?

[stevehaygood]

I am currently going to an automotive machinists school that specializes in teaching the special knowledge and techniques required for building racing engines exclusively. I am 100% DAV/Disabled American Veteran from Vietnam and it is a childhood dream of mine..the school is the only one of it's type in the USA recognized by the Veteran's Administration Vocational Rehab program...having said all that. We have 3 different drag cars that we campaign and one was national champ/record holder in it's class 2 years ago. 158mph@8.4 sec in 1/4 mile. 401 cubic inch Ford 351W stroker in 1995 Mustang, 3400 pounds with 10 inch tires. All natural aspirated with Braswell 4bbl carb, no nitrous, no turbo, no supercharger, 110 octane race gasoline, 4:11 gears...It IS A RACE ENGINE!!
935 Hp, 840 lb/ft torque and spins 9800 rpm, Ferrea titanium valves, solid roller set-up with 345lb seat closed and about 550lb open, 3 coil beehive set-up, Jessel valve train set-up and timing mechanism. trick 3 plate clutch with gram weights, etc. Clutch was $8500...Total cost of parts alone for the engine was in excess of $125,000! Plus machining costs...Piston rings (Just 2 for each piston, not 3) were over $900! LOL
As the owner of the school explained to me (I used to be a motorcycle tuner/mechanic in the 1970s for a Class C junior flat tracker) and knew nothing about particulars of drag racing... You want your engine power(HP) still climbing/pulling as you cross the finish line! And I said, But what about torque? he said torque is for twisting bolts! LOL..Still not sure if I really agree with him on that one, but he does have 40 years of racing under his belt in many forms of racing including 3 years on a NASCAR pit crew (Donny Allison) He even has his original '69 Z-28 street racer with only 9300 original miles and his wife races too!...Anyway the gentleman needs to realize that an engine is designed to perform in certain rev range and to perform certain types of work....3.07 gearing is like a touring car gear and he still wants it to "not run out of steam", at 6000rpm? I think he needs to decide if he wants to go touring or stop light acceleration, drag race, or auto cross? I've discovered if you put it to a customer in those approximate terms, you as an engine builder can then make sensible suggestions as to the type of engine and drive train he NEEDS. I think he needs a 342 stroker, around 400hp, hydraulic roller and maybe 3.86-4.11 gears and a 5 or 6 speed with over drive, and 8 inch tires on the rear...Oh, and don't forget the racer's rule:...How fast do you want to go?...How much money do you have? LOL Geez it is late and I am rambling way too much! LOL