I'm wanting to run a solid roller cam in my LT1. This car is my daily driver. I read in a previous thread that this has shown to be unreliable with LT1's.

Anyone have any info on this subject? THANKS.

__________________________________________________ _____Raymond

 

Solid would be tougher on the valve train and you would be checking lash
frequently (depending on the mileage).

There would be additional noise from the top end, and the exhaust will be somewhat
sharper in sound (metallic sounding) from the lifters.

I have never read/heard anything about being unreliable; I think it's more a
question of maintenance.

 

When I first did the stroker buildup, I drove mine daily for the first year, with no reliability problems. Three years later, now only a "track" car, and it still seems as "reliable" as when it was first built. Nothing done other than valve lash adjustments about twice a year.

 

I second what Fred says, I have 10,000 miles on my solid roller cam 383 LT1. Only adjust the valve lash twice a year. Noisy valvetrain isnt an issue with my car because you cant hear it over the exhaust.

 

Ya you can drive them. My buddy had the fastest NA 6 speed in county until this past weekend when it was taken at thunder races, but he ran a 396, SR, AFRs, and 4.30 gears. Last year we broke a car in BG, so he drove his home and we trailored the other one back. He got 26 mpg highway Nothing like a 10.7 car getting mid 20s on pump 93, lol.

 

Adjusting the lash is no problem. It's very easy to get to my rocker arms, because my LT1 is in a '68 camaro. I don't have to "work by feel" under the cowl panel, like on the 4th gens.

Can I get solid lifters that will drop right in like factory lifters, and work without modification?

 

I believe many of them will drop in, others require knotching your lifter valley to fit the tie bars etc. If you want it for the street, make sure to get something with an oiling pin.

 

Get the Crower or Isky ones with the pressure oiled roller's,and watch the ramp speed of your cam.Don't want anything to agressive were the cam "Slaps" the roller when it starts to open.That will bust roller's quick. Adjustment is about every 10,000 miles if you have a GOOD quality valve train.Years ago all cars had solid lifter's.Hyd came out around '55.Then again the engines weren't making 400HP and turning 7000RPM's.
Prolonged idle and continous low RPM's aren't good either.The cam and lifter's are oiled by splash only and there isn't much at low RPM'S.