Solid roller lifter failure

[blykins]

Yeah, let me know if you ever find that.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by blykins

Yeah, let me know if you ever find that.

He didn't mention what his engine was, and since we're in the Small Block forum I'm going to assume it's not an FE. But you know that a lot of very well-built FEs only score in the teens for oil pressure at idle. Do you feel comfortable with those kind of numbers and a solid roller cam?

[bermblaster41]

I have a stroked 408. Just don't understand how the OEM roller lifters can last 100k plus and not have problems. Is it the fact that it is a solid roller? Thanks for the input. My oil pressure at idle is around 30psi and under load around 65psi. Berm

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by bermblaster41

I have a stroked 408. Just don't understand how the OEM roller lifters can last 100k plus and not have problems. Is it the fact that it is a solid roller? Thanks for the input. My oil pressure at idle is around 30psi and under load around 65psi. Berm

The short answer is that the OEM rollers that last that long are all hydraulic and thus have no lash. Solids get slammed by the lash.

[Jac Mac]

Originally Posted by patrickt

The short answer is that the OEM rollers that last that long are all hydraulic and thus have no lash. Solids get slammed by the lash.

Rev Kit should help with this to keep the roller in contact with the lobe, Yes I realise its a tough ask with an 8.200 block, but with all the conical springs etc available today it might be worth looking into.

[scottj]

I ran a set of Crower extreme duty roller lifters (not PF) for over 4000 mi with a full race lobe and 250# seat pressure. I went through 3 sets of valve springs and was still on the original lifters. The biggest killer of solid roller lifters is not enough spring pressure. With a street grind roller and pressure fed lifters I would expect lifter failure to be a non-issue... as long as you check lash frequently and spring pressure occasionally (keeping records). Lash getting tighter is normal, lash getting looser indicates a problem.

Take a lesson from Ernie a.k.a. Excalibur who has been the most outspoken member on here against solid rollers. Some of the long time members will remember when he bought his ERA with the solid roller FE. Upon receiving the car he checked the lash and found some huge numbers... .060"-.070" or something like that. So, he adjusted them properly and then went out and blew up a lifter...which I would expect... and has been blaming the solid lifters ever since...

Ditto on the Crowers over the Comp Cams.