Thinking about solid lifters

[lippy]

Assuming I'm fine adjusting valve lash as necessary, and also replacing lifters every 7,500-10,000 miles, is the longevity of a solid roller cam motor the same as a hydraulic roller cam motor? With the exception of the lifters, could I get, say 50-75k out of the solid roller motor without failure of other parts?

[blykins]

I've already ordered your cam.

[A98Coupe]

Feel like we are covering old ground here, but don't you need to use a bronze distributor drive gear with a solid roller cam in an FE motor? I'm sure they wear out much quicker than the 7,000 ~ 10,000 mile lifter change quoted earlier?

[blykins]

You need one with any steel cam core....doesn't matter if it's hydraulic or solid.

I don't like the bronze gears and generally don't use them on anything. I prefer the steel gears.

[ERA Chas]

Originally Posted by lippy

With the exception of the lifters, could I get, say 50-75k out of the solid roller motor without failure of other parts?

I'm glad Brent ordered the cam already.
You are REALLY over-worrying this thing. In how many years are you planning to accumulate 75K miles? In how many open-track events? In how many Cobras that you swap this plant into?
Gaskets, rocker arms, stem seals, lifters, rings-among the things that WILL fail and long before 75K. No matter what cam.
Man-up. You've got a Cobra-not a Solara.

[blykins]

I may have to cancel it....I thought we had made a decision...hahaha

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by blykins

I may have to cancel it....I thought we had made a decision...hahaha

He's going to go with a new set-up, just to irritate Chas.

[brettco]

Some customers are better someone else's customer

[blykins]

Some times, I would agree with you. Not in this case though. Jeff is just wanting to make sure he makes the right decision.

[brettco]

Everyone should ride in a 600hp cobra before specing out an engine I guess

[GBowman]

Originally Posted by blykins

Some times, I would agree with you. Not in this case though. Jeff is just wanting to make sure he makes the right decision.

Wait a minute..."sometimes I would agree...." What's that supposed to mean!!!! Hahahaha, I didn't think I was that bad...

For what its worth on this discussion...I had a solid roller which lost a lifter after only 2700 miles and I got freaked out about the whole "solids are for racing, dont let it idle too long, spring eaters, yatta yatta...". Ford Racing agreed to build me a hydraulic roller to replace the solid roller engine since it was on warranty (since I wanted longevity and less maintenance this seemed like a no brainer).

As many know, Brent is building me another solid roller set up right now, well, maybe not since we don't have any pistons yet...Im not scared, the reason that I am going back to the solid set is that I miss that extra pull...the one that just keeps coming on at high RPM's. I will say that I asked Brent to get me the highest quality parts since the failure I had was prob due to mid grade lifters (at least I think that is what Brent said) and I don't want to skimp on anything.

The truth is that I didn't think I would miss a few HP or top end RPM capability but I did, my Hydro roller was pretty nice @570HP/582# @ 5800/4800 respectively but I could totally tell the difference between the two set ups. Theres just something about 7000 RPM's I suppose...

[Dimis]

Originally Posted by GBowman

Wait a minute..."sometimes I would agree...." What's that supposed to mean!!!! Hahahaha, I didn't think I was that bad...

......

The truth is that I didn't think I would miss a few HP or top end RPM capability but I did, my Hydro roller was pretty nice @570HP/582# @ 5800/4800 respectively but I could totally tell the difference between the two set ups. Theres just something about 7000 RPM's I suppose...

Settle down tiger - He was talking about me

Not sure I agree totally with part 2 of your quote though.
While YOU may be able to tell the difference. I'm certain I can't and I'm going to hazard a guess and bet Lippy and most others can't either.
Even if they come on here boasting otherwise

You'd be better served running proper rubber than worrying about whether you had 570hp & tq vs 630hp & tq.
Your tires will reach their limits well before your engine does, well at least that's true for the street.
Racing? Yes, I agree, is slightly different story.

[lippy]

In the spirit of dispelling solid lifter myths, I spoke with an Isky support engineer. He said their best solid rollers, which use bushings instead of needle bearings, will last probably 30k mi or possibly more with street use and clean oil. They have seen them go even further in service. The Isky guy said he even runs them in his daily driver (I guess Isky found the right guy for the job).

[blykins]

.....And those are the same lifters that I got for Gary's engine. They're not cheap, but they're top notch. Cheap lifters, wild cam lobes, and insufficient spring pressures are what most guys think of when they think of solid roller failures.

BTW....none of you all are who I had in mind when I said what I said.

I built an LS road race motor for a guy who argued with me about every part that I wanted to use. Funny thing was, his name wasn't on the valve covers. After I told him to come and get his parts out of my shop, we came to terms.

[Jerry Clayton]

Names on valve covers---------------I've said for probably 50 years now that" the crankshaft doesn't know what name is on the valve covers"---A genuine Jerry Illinois Farm Boy quote-------------

[lippy]

I've decided to go with solid lifters. Done deal.

[blykins]

Originally Posted by Jerry Clayton

Names on valve covers---------------I've said for probably 50 years now that" the crankshaft doesn't know what name is on the valve covers"---A genuine Jerry Illinois Farm Boy quote-------------

True, but not the way I meant it.

I meant that it had MY name on the engine.....and if it ran like a Briggs, then everyone would know it.

He heeded my advice, went to an event of 80 cars and placed 3rd.

[Dimis]

Originally Posted by blykins

True, but not the way I meant it.

I meant that it had MY name on the engine.....and if it ran like a Briggs, then everyone would know it.

He heeded my advice, went to an event of 80 cars and placed 3rd.

He would have placed 1st had he chosen an FE, and 2nd if he opted for a SBF

Now that will rattle some cages.

[lovehamr]

Originally Posted by Dimis

He would have placed 1st had he chosen an FE, and 2nd if he opted for a SBF

Now that will rattle some cages.

But I LIKE it!

[Jerry Clayton]

And he probably got over 20 mpg on the road trip there and back-------