Just wondering if anybody still runs a solid lift cam in a BBC,Thinking about using one in a 489ci for 1/8mile bracket car running football as it is less expensive than a roller cam setup
Posts: 9 | Location: morristown,tn | Registered: October 28, 2012
The problem with flat tappet cams today is most don’t know how to break them in and therefore wipe a lobe(s) out which necessitates tearing the engine down. A time consuming and costly endeavor. Just put a roller cam in it.
Posts: 13522 | Location: NJ | Registered: August 20, 2000
I am running a solid lifter cam in a BBC. Always have. As Ed mentioned, break in is the key. If they make it past break in, you are 99% of the way there. It is worth taking all the preventative steps you can prior to the first start up. But even then, there are no guarantees. Take care. Tom Worthington
If it seems that bracket racing has gotten too expensive for you, maybe you are just doing it wrong.
JUST USE THE DIRECT LUBE EXTREME DUTY LIFTERS BY HOWARDS.....RAN SAME CAM & LIFTERS FOR 10 YEARS...SOLD THE ENGINE..BBC496..GUY RAN IT 2 MORE YEARS...GOOD LUCK..
Posts: 58 | Location: Northwest | Registered: August 08, 2004
You're not going to get anywhere near the cam profile or the power potential of a roller setup however for basic bracket racing, speed means nothing. Flat tappet is also going to be much easier on the wallet.
Like everyone is already saying, break in is key to long life. Cars had flat tappet cams for decades and survived for a long time in an engine before roller cams eventually took over even in factory production vehicles.
Cost wise, flat tappet, Better performance potential, roller. In a bracket race, even the slowest car on the track has a chance to win. Just costs more money to go faster.
www.hardtail.com Stephen's Racing Page Best ET: 9.029 Best MPH: 150.45
Posts: 1352 | Location: Calgary | Registered: June 06, 2001
I ran Crane, Isky and Scheider flat tappets cams for years before switching to a roller cam, best move I ever made. The expense of the roller lifters compared to flat tappets made it more expensive but it was soooo well worth the additional cost. Yes the flat tappet cams made power but no where near as much as the roller, breaking it in the roller was the final straw, it made me a believer.
Bite the bullet, get a roller cam you will not regret the added expense.
Bob
Posts: 3082 | Location: Lakeside, Ca | Registered: February 15, 2003
In the 6.0 et @ 3000 lbs range the flat tappet cam is going to be about 2/10's slower than the roller. You have a little extra cost with oil additives but you will never spend the price of the roller, valve springs etc.etc in oil and maintenance. The valve springs and cam on the flat tappet will last longer than you will use the motor with proper break-in and oil changes. I believe and have for sometime that the roller cam deal is a cam company dream come true when it comes to bracket racers. Always breaking lifters and buying valve springs and other parts. Hell, I got a buddy that won more bracket races than most and he ran a solid lift cam in his car for over 5 years before a reworked stock rod gave up and killed it. He was at the track at least once a week and most of the time there was a 1/8 mile in there too. He never even changed the valve springs in that time. He just raced. This was a 1/4 mile 7200 rpm 460 BBF deal but he won a bunch of money with it. There are people on this board that know him too. If you don't have to set low ET, there is nothing wrong with a flat tappet cam especially on motors with the larger diameter lifter like the Ford and Chrysler.
Posts: 19 | Location: Arkansas | Registered: November 09, 2010
I've put 1000 passes on 2 sets of Crower Severe Duty needle bearing roller lifters, near the same on the Manley polished Nextek valve springs made by Associated Spring, having 280/800 psi, running stud mounted Crane Gold TR aka wide body roller rockers in this 700+HP 468 BBC
Never broke a lifter, valve spring, stud, rocker arm, pushrod, etc. in that engine which also did not have a stud girdle.This message has been edited. Last edited by: 1320racer,
Posts: 13522 | Location: NJ | Registered: August 20, 2000
Originally posted by n5ifi: In the 6.0 et @ 3000 lbs range the flat tappet cam is going to be about 2/10's slower than the roller. You have a little extra cost with oil additives but you will never spend the price of the roller, valve springs etc.etc in oil and maintenance. The valve springs and cam on the flat tappet will last longer than you will use the motor with proper break-in and oil changes. I believe and have for sometime that the roller cam deal is a cam company dream come true when it comes to bracket racers. Always breaking lifters and buying valve springs and other parts. Hell, I got a buddy that won more bracket races than most and he ran a solid lift cam in his car for over 5 years before a reworked stock rod gave up and killed it. He was at the track at least once a week and most of the time there was a 1/8 mile in there too. He never even changed the valve springs in that time. He just raced. This was a 1/4 mile 7200 rpm 460 BBF deal but he won a bunch of money with it. There are people on this board that know him too. If you don't have to set low ET, there is nothing wrong with a flat tappet cam especially on motors with the larger diameter lifter like the Ford and Chrysler.
If you have or had roller lifter issues there are two main reasons, cheap lifters or parts aren't matched. There is NO reason to be having these kinds of issues not to mention need oil additives just because you are using a roller cam! You likely need to find someone who knows what they are doing with respect to roller cams!
