What are some of the benefits and downfalls of each of these. I am going to be having my stock heads ported out this summer and then of course add a cam at the same time. So I need to decide if I want to go with a solid or a hydraulic roller. I want a BIG cam with my stock displacement....so any help would be great. thanks in advance.

 

Pros of solid = Better idle, higher rever, more stable valvetrain, generally higher horsepower/torque, generally better performer,etc...

Cons of solid = EXPENSIVE, have to adjust lash settings at about 3000rpms, need to change valve springs anywhere from 10000 miles (really banging on the motor) to 20000 miles (going easy, not high reving), just all around more maintenance.

I was convinced to go with a solid roller setup in my 383 LT4 project and you could say it is definately a "Big" cam.

Good luck either way.

 

Would solid roller be okay for long road trips?

 

Due to the cost of the springs for a solid roller setup I wouldnt go on long road trips, those springs will be having a work out as it is with a big solid roller cam, then add lots of run time, I think hyd. roller would be better for that useage.

 

Well, I am going to be putting about 4000 miles on my car this summer in a 2 week span. It is a solid roller LT4 383 car.

 

Actually in either setup you should check the valve springs and change them if needed.

"Pros of solid = Better idle, higher rever, more stable valvetrain, generally higher horsepower/torque, generally better performer,etc..."

Better idle = This depends, if the cam has the same duration and LSA yeah the solid with a looser lash will idle better.

higher rever = If the hyd is done right it can rev to 8,000rpm but most people can't do it right so normally a solid is for higher RPM.

more stable valvetrain = usually it will be more stable because the parts envolved, stronger pushrods, stronger rockers etc...., but the higher spring loads are actually causing the opposite of this, they are usually less stable.

generally higher horsepower/torque = Usually you have more duration and more lift in this situation so you get more power. A solid since it has lash also acts like it has less duration in the cam so it can give nice TQ numbers but most times it's more HP.

A top notch Hyd Roller setup being done from the ground up can be expensive, but not as much as a top notch soild roller. The big difference is really in the stronger pushrods in a solid roller, the more expensive lifters and usually the springs are more, but that can be matched in some hyd setups.

Bret

 

ttt