Rhoads Lifters

Hi,

I have posted this question on two other threads with no reply yet, but I am just learning how to use this rather fancy (but useful) website. The question is why do not rodders use Rhoads lifters (Crane sells them too) to get good low speed mileage as well as high rpm performance. For instance in a stock SBC-350 one could use Rhoads lifters with headers and Edelbrock Performer intake with a Comp Cam XE268 cam and realize the full benefit of the 268 cam over 3500 rpm while gaining better city mileage with what might effectively be a 256 degree cam below 2500 rpm? Before I make a mistake and try this I would like to know why more rodders don't use variable lifters. Two answers come to mind. First some people actually want the rumpity-rough idle for effect. Second maybe anyone who wants to occasionally race their car is worried about tech inspection for an illegal cam reading. However, with the price of gas being what it is today, I would think a variable cam engine yielding better mileage would be worth living without a rough idle. I would like to hear from someone who has tried Rhoads lifters in a SBC and ask whether they are noisy and whether one must use a stock pressure oil pump to avoid lifter pumpup too early. I would like to use Rhoads lifters in a mild SBC-350 on the street in a fiberglass 29 fendered roadster. If they do't work it should be easier to change the lifters with the engine in the car than to change the cam by pulling the engine from a tight compartment or removing the radiator, but it would be nice to get it right on the first try.

Don Shillady

Never have tried them. Heard them in a few cars, sounds like the valves are out of adjustment. I run rollers in most everything and never have concerned myself with fuel mileage in a hot rod.

I used those lifters in a couple of my engines.
They seem to be a good lifter to me, never had any problems with them. But like streets said there was alot of ticking noise. I also did'nt see any fuel millage gains with them. I was using them to try to hide a big cam for street racing. This did not work,because you could still hear the big cam. But on the other hand it made others think that some thing was wrong with the car and they would run me. Just to get spanked hard, He!He! I did'nt have a problem with the lifters but the ticking does get on your nerves after a while.

~ Vegas ~

Hey Thanks!

This forum/website is great in that the replies are rapid and informed. I missed the second page on the cam selection thread but you directed me to it. This saves me a lot of time and expense in that Rhoads lifters can work for improved idle but apparently do not improve mileage AND they are noisy, not to mention that some people have had problems with them while others have not. The conclusion I reach is that I am probably just as well off getting a towing cam like the MTC-1 from Melling. I read several of your other threads (is this a candy store or what?) on towing mileage and found another site titled "66ec" describing a '66 El Camino with a MTC-1 cam towing his race car, another El Camino on a trailer, and he proudly claims 15.8 mpg even using World SR heads and 1.6 rockers on a 350. Adding what I have learned from your towing-mileage thread in that towing certainly reduces mileage and comments from two 383 owners getting 17-18 mpg with a soft pedal, I can hope that with the MTC-1 cam and a 2.73 rear gear I may get 18 mpg on the Interstate and forget 20 mpg. I got hooked on this type of information exchange in 1953 reading Hot Rod magazine, but family, career and a hard driving boss kept me from realizing ownership of a street roadster, so I am having fun now since retirement. I still have a good 4" crank and rods (with 3 3/16" pistons) in my shed from a '50 Merc, but after buying three (3!) flathead blocks which turned out to be cracked I gave up on flatheads and I guess SBCs are getting old now too but I probably can set up a 350 to get 250 HP, about the practical max for a flathead and maybe get a few good rides before it is too late. Thanks very much for this site!

Don Shillady

Hey Thanks!

This forum/website is great in that the replies are rapid and informed. I missed the second page on the cam selection thread but you directed me to it. This saves me a lot of time and expense in that Rhoads lifters can work for improved idle but apparently do not improve mileage AND they are noisy, not to mention that some people have had problems with them while others have not. The conclusion I reach is that I am probably just as well off getting a towing cam like the MTC-1 from Melling. I read several of your other threads (is this a candy store or what?) on towing mileage and found another site titled "66ec" describing a '66 El Camino with a MTC-1 cam towing his race car, another El Camino on a trailer, and he proudly claims 15.8 mpg even using World SR heads and 1.6 rockers on a 350. Adding what I have learned from your towing-mileage thread in that towing certainly reduces mileage and comments from two 383 owners getting 17-18 mpg with a soft pedal, I can hope that with the MTC-1 cam and a 2.73 rear gear I may get 18 mpg on the Interstate and forget 20 mpg. I got hooked on this type of information exchange in 1953 reading Hot Rod magazine, but family, career and a hard driving boss kept me from realizing ownership of a street roadster, so I am having fun now since retirement. I still have a good 4" crank and rods (with 3 3/16" pistons) in my shed from a '50 Merc, but after buying three (3!) flathead blocks which turned out to be cracked I gave up on flatheads and I guess SBCs are getting old now too but I probably can set up a 350 to get 250 HP, about the practical max for a flathead and maybe get a few good rides before it is too late. Thanks very much for this site!

Don Shillady

Hi: Just a quick note to say I've been running these lifters in my 350 for over 20years with great success. Didn't notice too much change in idle as my car is still pretty lumpy, but it does have a great "solid lifter " noise from idle to around 3000 rpm. a little bit better bottom end as well!

I have used Rhoads lifters in the past for a "street stock" truck pulling class so that the engine would idle "smooth". Worked great for that application however I have never ran them on the street.

Good Luck