Quote:
Originally Posted by ERA Chas
Pat,
This is not meant in the spirit of the verbal duels we've had in the past with no ill will, criticism or irritation factor.
Everything in your description about flat solids is true-I have one myself and agree completely. However the point you left out is the fact that rollers, either solid or hydraulic will make more power than a flat solid of the same lift and LSA. That's why guys like Hotfingrs use them and many are willing to swap springs or lifters every year if they have to. He found quality Crower lifters and has 5 years on them with 600+ open pressure-excellent.
The more aggressive ramp rates allowed by rollers account for that. I have routinely seen 15 to 60 more HP in A to B testing between the two types of cams. (with the same lift and LSA) The rollers all had slightly more duration because they could open and close them more rapidly.
Some guys want the last HP and conform to the needs of a very aggressive setup. It's about the POWER for them, not the noise or 'coolness factor'.  |
I will agree that, in theory, a roller will provide more power than a flat tappet. However, a flat tappet, in most of our motors (certainly big FEs) can easily provide the maximum horsepower that can ever truly be used in a Cobra (we've debated that numerous times and everyone tends to agree that the magic maximum number after which additional horsepower is useless begins with a "5"). I bet you would agree that, if a solid flat tappet was providing 600 horsepower, and a roller would provide 650, there would be no performance reason to switch to the roller and, further, the roller would almost certainly require changing out in 8,000 miles or less -- thus making it less desirable.