Thread: Torque

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Im against the grain here and maybe will catch some flack. I dont in any way think rollers are not great and Pat is someone I highly respect in every way. But....

I have used hyraulic and solid falt tappet cams with no problems in quite in quite a few motors..in fact every car, truck or V twin motorcycle I have ever owned. I dont see a probelm with using one especially for a budget minded street motor looking for low and mid range power. Yes todays oil is garbage but if motor is built correct, all oil passages and sure to be clean, cam and lifters are inspected by a machine shop under a magnifying glass for any possible imperfections, GM EOS with the thick hihg concentrated Zinc cam lube (not the garbage red stuff from comp cams) is used, plenty of intial timing, a primed oiling system, a primed carb, a box fab for cooling and close to perfect vavle adjustment all before start up..no reason a flat tappet cam cant be used today. My Suburban Dail driver had 260K with hydraulic flat tappet, my small block equiped Chevelle as well. My BB I had as well as the one Im building using a solid flat tappet. Did a 427 with solid flat tappet 2 years ago with 276/284, 243/251 @ .050, .600/.600 lift on 110 LSA. Same cam by lunati has gone over 100,00o miles in other cars I personally know of using todays oil..key is just propper break in. I say if budget is a priority do your research and use the flat tappet for a street motor that doesnt spin high. If you would like some material on how to break in flat tappet cam on todays oil send me a PM of email and I can refer you. Of course all JMO.

Originally Posted by 30-A Rider

Im against the grain here and maybe will catch some flack. I dont in any way think rollers are not great and Pat is someone I highly respect in every way. But....

I have used hyraulic and solid falt tappet cams with no problems in quite in quite a few motors..in fact every car, truck or V twin motorcycle I have ever owned. I dont see a probelm with using one especially for a budget minded street motor looking for low and mid range power. Yes todays oil is garbage but if motor is built correct, all oil passages and sure to be clean, cam and lifters are inspected by a machine shop under a magnifying glass for any possible imperfections, GM EOS with the thick hihg concentrated Zinc cam lube (not the garbage red stuff from comp cams) is used, plenty of intial timing, a primed oiling system, a primed carb, a box fab for cooling and close to perfect vavle adjustment all before start up..no reason a flat tappet cam cant be used today. My Suburban Dail driver had 260K with hydraulic flat tappet, my small block equiped Chevelle as well. My BB I had as well as the one Im building using a solid flat tappet. Did a 427 with solid flat tappet 2 years ago with 276/284, 243/251 @ .050, .600/.600 lift on 110 LSA. Same cam by lunati has gone over 100,00o miles in other cars I personally know of using todays oil..key is just propper break in. I say if budget is a priority do your research and use the flat tappet for a street motor that doesnt spin high. If you would like some material on how to break in flat tappet cam on todays oil send me a PM of email and I can refer you. Of course all JMO.

well ok that is fine with me i only care about the ones i build but i did give him two numbers of HYD flat lifter cams ? i told him of a $40 roller cam that would be cheap and work good as well . i did not think i beat my drum i only use roller cams in bbc that loud here?? have seen more bbc eat cams then some guys build on here in a life time . as a full time engine builder . i build what will work and not come back .i do not worry if the cam was broke in right or piss around with old worn out springs or take out the inners springs .that just bull$hit.. time is money.. then the cam still could wipe .i would say if you were trying to make a income in machining and building engines .you would do more thinking on this maybe not? i still build flat lifter cam engines BUT not bbc if dead bone stock ? i do not build any of them. and if so i would push a roller cam up grade.as for break in use joe gibbs or brad penstate is what i use. the flat lifter cams i do put in .i tell the customers that they can wipe .if not broke in rigth and are STOCK RV OR MILD .i am not buying a rebuild for someone that did not take the time to even get it on number 1 to fire it and crank it till dead