Is a solid lifter a solid lifter?
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Safety Car
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From: Central Pennsylvania
Is a solid lifter a solid lifter?
Are all solid lifters pretty much the same? From what I’ve learned one size kinda fits all GM applications. Are some better than others for high horsepower applications? If so what are good solid lifters to use these days in a hi-perf engine build?
Almost Retired
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From: Akron, Ohio
Maybe you should define hi-perf. Are you talking hi-perf as in a 283 factory motor or a custom 500hp build? If you are talking the prior than any good brand name will do the job, if you are talking extreme hp in your Corvette then I would talk to a seasoned engine builder.
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Safety Car
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From: Central Pennsylvania
Maybe you should define hi-perf. Are you talking hi-perf as in a 283 factory motor or a custom 500hp build? If you are talking the prior than any good brand name will do the job, if you are talking extreme hp in your Corvette then I would talk to a seasoned engine builder.
Race Director
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From: Central Arkansas
A solid lifter is pretty much a solid lifter and the main thing is the quality of the steel and surface treatment. Only real development in recent times I'm aware of is the addition of a small oil hole on the lifter contact surface to improve oiling - I think they are called EDM lifters or something like that. Here's one example but I'm in no way endorsing Comp Cam lifters - just an example.
https://www.speedwaymotors.com/COMP-...Hole,9234.html
https://www.speedwaymotors.com/COMP-...Hole,9234.html
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Two types of mechanical lifters were used in vintage Corvette engines. The first type is call "edge orifice" and was used with all small block mechanical lifter cams. Big blocks used a new type called "piddle valve". The edge orifice type are one piece and easy to ID. The piddle valve type are two piece retained with a snap ring and these are easy to confuse with hydraulic lifters. They effect a 20-30 percent increase in overhead oiling. Both are dimensionally and functionally interchangeable between small and big blocks.
The edge orifice type disappeared some time ago, so you have to use the piddle valve type in small blocks.
I believe there is only one or maybe two manufacturers of these lifters, and I'm not sure who they are. Federal Mogul sells them along with aftermarket cam companies and they may all come from the same manufacturer.
It's best to buy lifters from the manufacturer of the cam. In fact, most won't warranty the cam unless you buy lifters from them, too.
Duke
The edge orifice type disappeared some time ago, so you have to use the piddle valve type in small blocks.
I believe there is only one or maybe two manufacturers of these lifters, and I'm not sure who they are. Federal Mogul sells them along with aftermarket cam companies and they may all come from the same manufacturer.
It's best to buy lifters from the manufacturer of the cam. In fact, most won't warranty the cam unless you buy lifters from them, too.
Duke
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I think it's noteworthy to mention that the factory GM solid lifters were what's called edge orifice lifters where the oil feed hole for the rockers is higher than a traditional lifter. This reduced the oil flow to the rocker boxes as the oil pump had a higher pressure relief spring plus the higher rpm range of the solid lifter engine moved more oil flow.
You don't want to flood the rocker box with oil and have a lower level in the oil pan.
I don't know how comp cam lifters with the .012 hole perform but I don't see a disadvantage either.
You don't want to flood the rocker box with oil and have a lower level in the oil pan.
I don't know how comp cam lifters with the .012 hole perform but I don't see a disadvantage either.
Drifting
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Last edited by DSR; Sep 10, 2020 at 10:00 AM. Reason: Info
Safety Car
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From: Olive branch Ms
Is a lifter a lifter? Hell no! You can by a ton of different boxes of lifters that will all fit in an SBC but that doesn't make them the same. I'm not even sure if these are still available as I haven't needed a solid lifter in a while. If they are the on you need is 5115.
http://toplineauto.com/wp-content/up...on-Catalog.pdf
Myself I stay away from EDM lifters. They put the hole in after the lifter is finished and where do you think that trash is going when it gets flushed out?
which ever lifter you buy make sure it's American made.
http://toplineauto.com/wp-content/up...on-Catalog.pdf
Myself I stay away from EDM lifters. They put the hole in after the lifter is finished and where do you think that trash is going when it gets flushed out?
which ever lifter you buy make sure it's American made.
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Is a lifter a lifter? Hell no! You can by a ton of different boxes of lifters that will all fit in an SBC but that doesn't make them the same. I'm not even sure if these are still available as I haven't needed a solid lifter in a while. If they are the on you need is 5115.
http://toplineauto.com/wp-content/up...on-Catalog.pdf
Myself I stay away from EDM lifters. They put the hole in after the lifter is finished and where do you think that trash is going when it gets flushed out?
which ever lifter you buy make sure it's American made.
http://toplineauto.com/wp-content/up...on-Catalog.pdf
Myself I stay away from EDM lifters. They put the hole in after the lifter is finished and where do you think that trash is going when it gets flushed out?
which ever lifter you buy make sure it's American made.
John F
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From: Olive branch Ms
We used a lot of Elgin products in everything we built when I worked at a performance engine shop, years ago. They're a very trusted name but I have no idea where they source their lifters. As I said I would ONLY use USA made lifters.
Last edited by Robert61; Sep 10, 2020 at 04:57 PM.
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i Have a dumb or simple question, why would you use solid lifters and not solid roller lifters?
Team Owner
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St. Jude Donor '05
solid roller cams lifters and springs are expensive..run like hell though
Johnson still makes a good FT lifter sit down on the price though. Problem is most out today arent any good...why Gm doesnt bring these back Ill never know they couldnt make them fast enough.
I think Isky uses Johnson may want to call them, crower etc.
Not a fan of comp anything too many failures.
Johnson still makes a good FT lifter sit down on the price though. Problem is most out today arent any good...why Gm doesnt bring these back Ill never know they couldnt make them fast enough.
I think Isky uses Johnson may want to call them, crower etc.
Not a fan of comp anything too many failures.
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My motor is been together for more than 18 years
Comp solid roller hi lift cam with roller bearings, Rhoads solid lifters, Lunati full Roller Rocker Arms no problems (yet)
Comp solid roller hi lift cam with roller bearings, Rhoads solid lifters, Lunati full Roller Rocker Arms no problems (yet)
Last edited by walleyfisher; Sep 10, 2020 at 03:56 PM.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
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From: Central Pennsylvania
Fair question.....simply because I fear what I don’t know. In my sick mind I just think the more moving parts there are the more chances of failure there are. I know it’s probably a slim chance but...... Just familiar with a good old solid grind stick, honest Injun.
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...never heard of a "LT1 30/30 cam". There IS a LT! cam... AND a 30-30 cam. They are different cams, but do share the same exhaust lobe indexed 6 degrees different from each other.
Has anyone ever heard about the Duntov 30-30 LT-1 cam?
Duke
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According to the shop doing the work on my motor (and they’ve been doing these since the late 60’s) apparently Johnson makes 90 percent of the lifters on the market. Seems to be quite an involved manufacturing process in making them. Who’d think!?!? Gotta believe Elgin still has a strong reputation. Not as common as Comp, Crane, Crower, Isky etc but still a solid history & reputation (no pun intended).
Last edited by ettev; Sep 10, 2020 at 06:10 PM.
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I think Topline purchased the closed up Johnson plant and reopened it around 2004. They may have moved the tooling to a new location.
Eaton built the old GM hydraulic and solid lifters but quit making flat tappet lifters when OEM rollers took over production demand.
Eatons move motivated Topline to buy Johnson.
Eaton built the old GM hydraulic and solid lifters but quit making flat tappet lifters when OEM rollers took over production demand.
Eatons move motivated Topline to buy Johnson.