Hydraulic Roller lifters with a standard cam

[swinn]

Does anyone know if you can run the Comp Cams 8934-16 Hydraulic Roller Lifters with a standard cam? The press release http://www.compcams.com/information/wha ... blocks.pdf indicates that the part is a proper fit for the engine, and that you can run it with no other modifications. I take this to mean that I can run it with any cam that is suitable for a 390, I don't need some kind of special 'Roller Cam'.

I want to run roller lifters not for ultra high performance, but rather for reduced friction. I want to maintain hydraulic lifters for maintenance reasons (no adjustments). These lifters seem like a good modernization step for my FE build. I'd like to run a fairly mild 214-216 duration cam with it (like an ISKY ISK-351264). The so called 'roller cams' are huge cams that aren't suitable for the street.

Anyone built an FE motor with these roller lifters or know for certain that they will run OK with cams designed for standard hydraulic lifters?

[71HANKER]

you cannot run roller lifters on an normal cam. Roller cams are made of billet steel, and are designed to work with the roller lifters. Regular cams are cast. if you do you will definitely destroy your cam. if you want a good powerful cam package, i would get the edelbrock performer cam kit #EDL-2106, it comes with a regular cam and matched lifters. idle-5500 rpm, 194/204 duration and .460"/ .480" lift.

[DuckRyder]

Does anyone know if you can run the Comp Cams 8934-16 Hydraulic Roller Lifters with a standard cam?

Absolutely not.

[Redcap]

Does anyone know if you can run the Comp Cams 8934-16 Hydraulic Roller Lifters with a standard cam? The press release http://www.compcams.com/information/wha ... blocks.pdf indicates that the part is a proper fit for the engine, and that you can run it with no other modifications. I take this to mean that I can run it with any cam that is suitable for a 390, I don't need some kind of special 'Roller Cam'.

I want to run roller lifters not for ultra high performance, but rather for reduced friction. I want to maintain hydraulic lifters for maintenance reasons (no adjustments). These lifters seem like a good modernization step for my FE build. I'd like to run a fairly mild 214-216 duration cam with it (like an ISKY ISK-351264). The so called 'roller cams' are huge cams that aren't suitable for the street.

Anyone built an FE motor with these roller lifters or know for certain that they will run OK with cams designed for standard hydraulic lifters?

No, no, no, no! I've seen what happens and it isn't pretty. If you want roller lifters, you will require a roller cam. What is wrong with a standard hydraulic cam?

[averagef250]

I do not feel roller cams are one iota better than flat tappet cams for low lift applications. I've seen 2500 RPM diesel cams and solid flat lifters go 1,000,000 miles with no measureable wear. I put 140K on a 390 with crane 901 cam, lifters and apprpriate springs and the cam and lifters looked like it was just broke in when I opened the motor up for inspection to sell it. That was with 2500 mile oil changes with 10W30 Castrol GTX.

I've heard it argued that roller lifters are more resilent with poor maintenance. I've torn down a few roller cam chev 350's and vortec 454's that had very grooved cams and galled lifters. Roller cams and lifters are far more costly to replace than flat tappet versions.

The fact is a hydraulic lifter is a hydraulic lifter. The hydraulic portion works the same way and serves the same job. The roller adds valvetrain mass over a flat tappet lifter and doesn't offer any advantage over a flat tappet on a conservative profile.

[swinn]

I understand about the incompatibility between roller lifters and flat tappet hydraulic lifters now. Thanks! See my post: 390 Rebuild failed to see why I was researching different lifter options. When I was doing that research, I wasn't aware why my cam/lifters had failed, but now that I know I am confident installing a flat tappet hydraulic cam and lifters in the new rebuild. In my research I did find a place that will custom grind a hydraulic roller cam for FE's and sell the comp cams hydraulic roller lifter retrofit with it. The cam is about $270 and the lifters about $530. Then new springs, retainers, etc... and you are in for $1000. Too much money for me and now that I know what went wrong with my rebuild I'll be putting a new comp cams xtreme energy cam in it. Thanks!

[averagef250]

FYI, Comp will grind you any cam you want. The last custom conversion solid roller I had them make me with lifters was under $500. It seamed to me if you deal with thier custom department they cut you considerably better deals than thier retail prices.

[Redcap]

FYI, Comp will grind you any cam you want. The last custom conversion solid roller I had them make me with lifters was under $500. It seamed to me if you deal with thier custom department they cut you considerably better deals than thier retail prices.

Isky is the very same way, at least in my experience.

[donwhis]

averagef250 and Redcap,

A novice question, what were you trying to get done with a custom grind?

I have been thinking all along about a Comp, ISKY or Edelbrock cam and lifters for a 390 rebuild. It sounds like I could save some serious money by asking for a custom grind, and then use the savings on other stuff like intake, headers, carb, ignition or anything else.

How do I go about doing it?

[averagef250]

Iskendarian pioneered some cam technology in the late 60's. They've gone downhill since then. Thier cams are often referred to as rubber cams today. I would avoid using thier stuff, but to each thier own.

Edelbrock doesn't make any cam they sell and the stuff they do make doesn't make any power.

Comp is pretty good for mainstream stuff, but they don't have much of a clue when it comes to unpopular engines like FE's.

Crane Cams has done a great job supporting FE's, but I heard they are no longer in business.

The custom roller cams I've had ground were for race engines, not street stuff. For a street FE I'd run a flat tappet cam with some good adjustable roller rockers (the rockers are expensive enough as it is).

If you want a custom FE camshaft talk to Oregon Cam Grinding. I've never used them, but know many who have with good results. They're a smaller outfit, but know FE's well