Flat tappet lifter failure

[Stan Weiss]

Originally Posted by Terry Cain

Curious how many have had this problem regardless of reasoning in last 5 years or so.

Terry,
Since it seems getting lifters is a problem. Is the cam still OK? If so have looked for someone who can resurface those lifters?


Stan

[JGrossijr]

It appears that some on this site may be in the wrong class or running the wrong combination. To those, please pick something that fits your personal agenda and leave the silent majority alone.
Thank you,
Jim Grossi

[Alan Roehrich]

I'm hearing the rule change is "out of the question", which is a great thing.


Was in the shop with a legend yesterday, he's raced as long as I have lived. All he said was "them boys will keep on and they'll be in Super Stock soon."


The lifter change is NOT a solution. It won't prevent failures. Roller lifters fail, too. And it is just as catastrophic. It would require an entirely new lobe design, you don't just stick roller lifters in on the cam you have. Flat tappets can actually accelerate FASTER at a certain point. But then the roller comes into its own. If you change to roller lifters, you need different springs, and different pushrods. The stud mount rocker cars will snap rocker studs like twigs. The cars allowed 0.875" and 0.904" lifters will have access to better lobe profiles, and have fewer roller lifter failures.The stud mount rocker cars will also rip the rocker stud bosses out of the heads. Current valve spring technology will allow the use of lobes that will extend the RPM range, by 1,000 RPM.


The introduction of roller lifters will simply begin series of escalations that will take 3-5 years to develop, and cost thousands upon thousands of dollars. It will alter the factoring drastically. If anyone ever lets that genie out of the bottle, the class will be wrecked for years.

[MR DERBY CITY]

Originally Posted by JGrossijr

It appears that some on this site may be in the wrong class or running the wrong combination. To those, please pick something that fits your personal agenda and leave the silent majority alone.
Thank you,
Jim Grossi

Bravo, everyone knew the rules when they requested their permanent number years ago. While at the time I applauded the unlimited valve spring rule, it is a major reason contributing to runaway costs in stock eliminator. If you don’t agree with the rules OR heads up runs , JUST LEAVE ….run superstock, brackets ,….WHATEVER . ….Take your personal agenda with you as you close the door ……

[bubski]

Bubski can't believe this crazy train has derailed into a no "heads up" no performance based category !! Now back to lifters !! Imagine adding to the vegetable soup of stock classes with additional classes for cars with or without roller lifters ?? Bubski would like to present an example of this fine mess being pushed in Stock !! How about rU/SA the "r" being for the roller lifter designation !! Sooo!! how about f-U/SA ?? pretty self explanatory I believe !! The f-U/SA class will be 6 rounds at any class racer if they do this just because !! Cheers !!

[Billy Nees]

Sorry Bubski but I can't get behind *-*/SA, it's too close to something some woker would say for me.

[Terry Cain]

Originally Posted by Stan Weiss

Terry,
Since it seems getting lifters is a problem. Is the cam still OK? If so have looked for someone who can resurface those lifters?


Stan

Nope. Cam is junk. Lifters are junk. Oil pump is junk. Pistons? questionable if they can be saved. rod and main bearings, rings. All junk.
The problem is getting lifters that will last. Coating does not work. Tool steel on certain cams won't work. Seems only thing that will work (sometimes) are 15 year old lifters that are not available anymore.

[Chevy55]

Originally Posted by Terry Cain

Nope. Cam is junk. Lifters are junk. Oil pump is junk. Pistons? questionable if they can be saved. rod and main bearings, rings. All junk.
The problem is getting lifters that will last. Coating does not work. Tool steel on certain cams won't work. Seems only thing that will work (sometimes) are 15 year old lifters that are not available anymore.

Here's a good take on the lifter problem