Solid lifters in Stock

Tim H · 09-03-2018, 09:02 PM

When the rule was changed to allow solid lifters in Stock eliminator engines that were previously hydraulic equipped, did racers change cams or just install solid lifters ? What typically would they set valve lash at ? Not looking for top secret info just a general idea.
I have seen solid cams run in engines (not NHRA stockers) with hydraulic lifters that seemed to work "ok" but never the reverse procedure,

Dave Noll · 09-03-2018, 09:53 PM

Myself, I have just switched lifters. BUT, the pattern on the cam had to appear normal, I lubed the lifters just like installing a new cam. Put break in oil in the pan. Set lash and ran it for a Half hour at 2500. With a hydraulic cam there are no clearance ramps ground into it so I run lash tighter than usual. (under .010)

Rsmith38 · 09-04-2018, 01:19 PM

I installed solid lifters on hydraulic cam and was told by a well known cam grinder to set lash at .004 - works fine!

David Lee · 09-04-2018, 01:50 PM

has anyone noticed a hp increase or a better et?

Alan Nyhus · 09-04-2018, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Lee

has anyone noticed a hp increase or a better et?

-With solids, you loose lift at the valve due to the lash under running conditions.

-With true hydraulics, the theoretical lash is '0'. In reality, there is some compression of the retained oil in the lifter. How much? .004? .006? More? less?

And since the lift is checked at '0' lash.....

-Al

Rob Petrie E395 · 02-03-2019, 10:22 PM

Going from non shimmed Hydraulic Roller Lifters to solid roller lifters. What would you expect to see as far as performance increase?

Dan Fahey · 02-04-2019, 06:56 PM

The way I see it...
Solid Lifters allowed an engine to spin tighter with the same Spring.

Over the years (decades) Hydraulics improved with Short Travel Lifters and other modifications to get them to behave more like a Solid Lifter.

Couple questions.
Are Solid Lifters Lighter than Hydraulics?

Do solids allow better ramp rates and duration?

Is there any improvement to valvetrain control?

Mark Yacavone · 02-05-2019, 06:32 PM

Minus 4 thou lift not a big issue to me .Probably lose that much on the other side with hydraulics.
Last year, guys were talking .010.
Any more real world, hands on reports about lash from last season?

Nmbr1GMfan · 02-05-2019, 06:55 PM

I am in the process of switching from hydraulics to solids on the same cam (originally ground by crane who was of little help to me) (maybe I talked to the wrong guy). Called Bullet, they were very very helpful and instructed me to swap to an "EDM" lifter @ .008 hot. I'm going to tighten the lash from there on the dyno to see if there's any + or - results. I hope there is a peformance improvement for me with lifters, pushrods, rockers and properly setup springs.

Pat6868 · 02-05-2019, 10:27 PM

Treating your cam , Nitride or Cryo is worth looking into.

09-03-2018, 09:02 PM	#1
Tim H VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,040 Likes: 1,064 Liked 481 Times in 158 Posts	Solid lifters in Stock When the rule was changed to allow solid lifters in Stock eliminator engines that were previously hydraulic equipped, did racers change cams or just install solid lifters ? What typically would they set valve lash at ? Not looking for top secret info just a general idea. I have seen solid cams run in engines (not NHRA stockers) with hydraulic lifters that seemed to work "ok" but never the reverse procedure,

09-03-2018, 09:53 PM	#2
Dave Noll Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Div. 6, Eastern, WA Posts: 709 Likes: 2,639 Liked 238 Times in 111 Posts	Re: Solid lifters in Stock Myself, I have just switched lifters. BUT, the pattern on the cam had to appear normal, I lubed the lifters just like installing a new cam. Put break in oil in the pan. Set lash and ran it for a Half hour at 2500. With a hydraulic cam there are no clearance ramps ground into it so I run lash tighter than usual. (under .010) __________________ Dave Noll, EF/S ,?/SA 6526 Last edited by Dave Noll; 09-04-2018 at 05:34 PM.

09-04-2018, 01:19 PM	#3
Rsmith38 Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 186 Likes: 0 Liked 28 Times in 15 Posts	Re: Solid lifters in Stock I installed solid lifters on hydraulic cam and was told by a well known cam grinder to set lash at .004 - works fine!

09-04-2018, 01:50 PM	#4
David Lee VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,168 Likes: 487 Liked 346 Times in 126 Posts	Re: Solid lifters in Stock has anyone noticed a hp increase or a better et?

02-03-2019, 10:22 PM	#6
Rob Petrie E395 VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Woodlawn IL Posts: 1,092 Likes: 162 Liked 216 Times in 77 Posts	Re: Solid lifters in Stock Going from non shimmed Hydraulic Roller Lifters to solid roller lifters. What would you expect to see as far as performance increase?

02-04-2019, 06:56 PM	#7
Dan Fahey VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 2,127 Likes: 1,084 Liked 184 Times in 113 Posts	Re: Solid lifters in Stock The way I see it... Solid Lifters allowed an engine to spin tighter with the same Spring. Over the years (decades) Hydraulics improved with Short Travel Lifters and other modifications to get them to behave more like a Solid Lifter. Couple questions. Are Solid Lifters Lighter than Hydraulics? Do solids allow better ramp rates and duration? Is there any improvement to valvetrain control?

02-05-2019, 06:32 PM	#8
Mark Yacavone Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Miles From Nowhere Posts: 7,790 Likes: 2,882 Liked 5,080 Times in 1,936 Posts	Re: Solid lifters in Stock Minus 4 thou lift not a big issue to me .Probably lose that much on the other side with hydraulics. Last year, guys were talking .010. Any more real world, hands on reports about lash from last season? __________________ "We are lucky we don't get as much Government as we pay for." Will Rogers

02-05-2019, 06:55 PM	#9
Nmbr1GMfan VIP Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 1,763 Likes: 1,197 Liked 1,954 Times in 491 Posts	Re: Solid lifters in Stock I am in the process of switching from hydraulics to solids on the same cam (originally ground by crane who was of little help to me) (maybe I talked to the wrong guy). Called Bullet, they were very very helpful and instructed me to swap to an "EDM" lifter @ .008 hot. I'm going to tighten the lash from there on the dyno to see if there's any + or - results. I hope there is a peformance improvement for me with lifters, pushrods, rockers and properly setup springs. __________________ Todd Greene

02-05-2019, 10:27 PM	#10
Pat6868 Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 102 Likes: 6 Liked 84 Times in 28 Posts	Re: Solid lifters in Stock Treating your cam , Nitride or Cryo is worth looking into.