yeah i heard that idling kills sr setups....we need bret to chime in

 

I've ran a solid cam in my big block for 4 years and i haven't had any problems. I do readjust the valves at every oil change, but thats about it. However I don't run nearly 300 mi a week. Personally i like a solid cam as long as you know how to adjust your valves properly.

 

Is that a SOLID roller?

Denny knows what he is doing. That's not why he had trouble.

 

Think the key word here is "Big Block". Is it a roller or flat lifter. Owned a 69 427 Corvette with a decent sized solid roller with no problems at all. Also was flat tappet.

For whatever reason (not adjustment.....trust me) I ate lifters like Carters Little Liver Pills and tried different brands of lifters. The only thing in common was the brand of camshaft and that was Cam Motion. As mentioned, I sold one of my cams to a friend and he galled it also. Larry Meaux has Cam Motion listed on his website so I doubt he's had issues with their cams.

I'd do a solid roller in a heartbeat if I knew for sure how to not have issues with them. Just plain don't know. What I do know is it was so expensive that I'll let someone else do it first.

 

why no titanitum retainers for more than 300 a week?

 

Because there's a wives tale going around that Ti retainers are not durable enough to handle daily street use. I dunno... I've ran the same Ti retainers for 9 years and 90K miles...
Lots of horror stories here. My SR short block is done, using Isky RedZone lifters and Ti retainers and will hopefully be in the car w/in the next 4 weeks. Car may be driven once or twice a week on the weekends. We'll see how it holds up!

 

I'm pretty sure that if you get a "Street" solid roller cam that it will live a while on the street but minimize the idle time by all means. Setting idle to 1000rpm or above should help for longevity too.

I ran a Crane street solid roller in my 383LT1 impala SS for many years, (and set the lash to .010" stone cold at initial install and never ever had to adjusted the lash after that). Love the solid roller rev-ability!!!! Not 300 miles a week though but maybe 50 miles a week.

That solid roller cam is on the shelf right now and in great shape. I took it out to put in a "Race" profile solid roller cam, (that I would never ever run on the street).

But, I'm putting that same Crane street solid roller into a little stock crank LT1 treefiddyfive soon with pocket ported GM LT4 heads just for fun. Should be a good little bracket race motor.

Street solid roller cams should work "fine" on the street. Just be careful and inspect the lifters and cam lobes periodically, (once or twice a year).

 

Hey Karl! I forgot about "Thumper" and its solid roller. After all of the horror stories I heard about solid rollers on the street, I went with a street roller myself. So far so good. I believe the tight lash cams are where it's at. Plus, extreme valvespring pressure may be a problem too. Idling in traffic is bad as we know so I had Mikey Harris cut oil slots in my lifters to oil the rollers. Geez, how fast are you gonna get that tank to go this year?

 

Hi Chris M. I don't think my tank will be running within .7 seconds of Mike Harris. I'm going to use my DGGM Impala SS to experiment with my stock bottom 350 heads/cam and then other motor combos like a stock crank/premium piston-rod 355 combo. I hope to see 11.6 with the solid roller 355 LT1 (personal goal). I also hope to see 11.8x @ 116 with the 350LT1 heads/cam motor (personal goal).

Love the solid rollers though. I used to think they were overly costly but now I think that to get as reliable high rpm power with hydraulic that it cost just as much because of having to buy the extra premium parts.

Karl

 

If you have to ask then you defionitely arent ready for a solid cam

 

Depends on the springs too, a hard damper can easily chew thru a SR spring over time. For durability engines you can get steel retainers that are almost as light as Ti stuff but they cost more. Easily $35 a piece per retainer.

Bret

 

More like 300 miles a month is closer for me but getting ready to pull the heads adding a thinner head gasket and new springs. I'll eyeball the retainers to see if they show any wear as you have me curious. Problems in the past with solid rollers, yep. Retainers? Nope, and I ran them on my old SS that did see 300 miles per week.

 

I can't see the advantage of a SR over an HR for 99+% of street or street/strip use.

Rich

 

I agree with Rich.

 

Still awaiting someone to do an apples to apples comparison of a hydraulic vs solid roller that has real proof that a solid roller does indeed make more power. Always heard that it did, but currently making (when it's in tune) over 480 at the wheel reving to 7200 and with the exception of eating springs, no issues at all. Not great power but this is with in the relative picture of solid roller cams.... a moderate cam. 245/248 with .630 lift. Absolutely great drivability. Put the same relative cam in, make more power, no drivability issues!! Sold!

Hoping to do slightly better with a little more compression but again, if someone can prove solids make more power and know for sure how to make them live on the street. My AMX card is readly and willing.