Hydraulic vs Solid Roller Cam
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 93
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From: WA
Hydraulic vs Solid Roller Cam
What if any advantage/disadvantage is there to running a solid roller cam besides the obvious need to occasionaly adjust the lash. I'm debating on using a retro roller cam instead of a solid flat tappet cam in a 383 build for my '67. Since it is going in a midyear, I would like to keep the sound of mechanical lifters and adjusting them a few times a year is no big deal for me.
Anyone use a solid roller here?
Anyone use a solid roller here?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,403
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Crane cams has solid street rollers with cast iron cam gear on them,
keeps you from having to buy an expensive dist. gear, they are the only cam company that goes to the trouble. If your engine will be running low RPM you
may want to go Hydraulic. I would run a solid street roller in a heartbeat but
thats just me. I trhink MOTORHEAD has went to a solid roller. have fun
keeps you from having to buy an expensive dist. gear, they are the only cam company that goes to the trouble. If your engine will be running low RPM you
may want to go Hydraulic. I would run a solid street roller in a heartbeat but
thats just me. I trhink MOTORHEAD has went to a solid roller. have fun
Last edited by Little Mouse; May 27, 2006 at 02:29 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,347
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From: Seattle Area WA
Actually Wally, I appreciate the honest feedback. Going to a roller setup is pretty spendy for the extra ponies one gets in return. I may just stay with a flat tappet and spend the money elsewhere.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
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From: Taylor Michigan
Both of your opinions are sound. Rev kits, extra junk in the valley, and increased spring pressure to keep those tiny rollers on the cam profile are a few of the problems besides the constant up keep. I only use them in the race cars and they are continually torn down. Just put a good solid lifter cam in the 383 an enjoy the sucker instead of working on it. And a hydraulic anything would only defeat the purpose of the 383. And we know the purpose of that change 
Last edited by Ironcross; May 27, 2006 at 03:24 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
If hydraulic rollers weren't an improvement over flat tappets, GM would save a bunch of manufacturing money and use flat tappet cams in their modern engines. The fact that they don't says a lot.
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Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Youngstown Ohio
Originally Posted by I'm Batman
If hydraulic rollers weren't an improvement over flat tappets, GM would save a bunch of manufacturing money and use flat tappet cams in their modern engines. The fact that they don't says a lot.
The proven longevity and power of hyd. rollers says a lot, and there are plenty 500+ HP street reliable small blocks running around there.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
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From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
The day you die it's best to have a "Zero" balance! I put 20,000 miles on my 383 with a solid roller before I had some bad luck. Without a doubt solid rollers in sub 7000 rpm motor could feasably last 50K miles. H-rollers are probably good for 100K
Cruising
Joined: May 2006
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From: okeechobee fl
im new to this i just bought my first corvette im 35 i wish i would have bought one a whole lot sooner. my question is how do you fill the power steering fluid with the alt. bracket in the way , is there a different bracket that i can put on to make it easier. my vette is a 1978 25 ann. 
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
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From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
I would use a solid flat tappet over a hydraulic roller any day, equal or better performance and lower cost.
I use a Comp Cams solid street roller, it has reduced spring pressures and it is designed for the street with at cast distributor gear so you don't have to change that. I have over 10,000 trouble free miles on my 550 HP 406ci and I would not build another motor with anything but a solid roller cam in it
I use a Comp Cams solid street roller, it has reduced spring pressures and it is designed for the street with at cast distributor gear so you don't have to change that. I have over 10,000 trouble free miles on my 550 HP 406ci and I would not build another motor with anything but a solid roller cam in it
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Youngstown Ohio
Originally Posted by huntokee
im new to this i just bought my first corvette im 35 i wish i would have bought one a whole lot sooner. my question is how do you fill the power steering fluid with the alt. bracket in the way , is there a different bracket that i can put on to make it easier. my vette is a 1978 25 ann.
Welcome to the forum.....GM didn't make it easy to reach the PS fluid on any C3 it seems.....I just use a funnel that extends into the reservoir and pour slowly.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,403
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MOTORHEAD, every mag I have looked at compairing hydraulic,
soild rollers, and this at less then 7000rpm ( street motor )
big block and small block the soild roller just eats the hydraulics
lunch. and compaired to a solid flat tappit there is no contest.
40 hp more. I see a radical crane street roller in my crystal ball
for me if I can get the lobe lift adjusted a little.
soild rollers, and this at less then 7000rpm ( street motor )
big block and small block the soild roller just eats the hydraulics
lunch. and compaired to a solid flat tappit there is no contest.
40 hp more. I see a radical crane street roller in my crystal ball
for me if I can get the lobe lift adjusted a little.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 11,322
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From: Living in the Hartland
Each type of cam has it place, up to the person to decide what they want:
1. Hyd flat tappet-cheap and no main
2. Solid flat tappet-cheap and powerfull but some main.
3. Hyd roller-expensive, powerfull and no main
4. Solid roller-expensive, powerfull and some main
1. Hyd flat tappet-cheap and no main
2. Solid flat tappet-cheap and powerfull but some main.
3. Hyd roller-expensive, powerfull and no main
4. Solid roller-expensive, powerfull and some main
Safety Car
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From: Pettis Performance 565 with two stages of Nitrous Supply nitrous 1.082, 4.61 at 155, 7.17 at 192
Originally Posted by Little Mouse
MOTORHEAD, every mag I have looked at compairing hydraulic,
soild rollers, and this at less then 7000rpm ( street motor )
big block and small block the soild roller just eats the hydraulics
lunch. and compaired to a solid flat tappit there is no contest.
40 hp more. I see a radical crane street roller in my crystal ball
for me if I can get the lobe lift adjusted a little.
soild rollers, and this at less then 7000rpm ( street motor )
big block and small block the soild roller just eats the hydraulics
lunch. and compaired to a solid flat tappit there is no contest.
40 hp more. I see a radical crane street roller in my crystal ball
for me if I can get the lobe lift adjusted a little.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,676
Likes: 201
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
Originally Posted by Little Mouse
MOTORHEAD, every mag I have looked at compairing hydraulic,
soild rollers, and this at less then 7000rpm ( street motor )
big block and small block the soild roller just eats the hydraulics
lunch. and compaired to a solid flat tappit there is no contest.
40 hp more. I see a radical crane street roller in my crystal ball
for me if I can get the lobe lift adjusted a little.
soild rollers, and this at less then 7000rpm ( street motor )
big block and small block the soild roller just eats the hydraulics
lunch. and compaired to a solid flat tappit there is no contest.
40 hp more. I see a radical crane street roller in my crystal ball
for me if I can get the lobe lift adjusted a little.
Anyway if you look at the lift at a certain duration for street cams the hydraulic roller and solid flat tappet are very similar and if I can the same performance out of a cam with 1/4 the price tag then I go with the solid flat tappet. No contest when comparing the solid roller to anything, it wins hands down.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 599
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From: New York
wich cam...
Hey guys I just finished with my 454 engine rebuild....not having the experience I asked the tech. from jegs which cam I should use n he advised me to use comps XE268H....n after reading this thread n others I think I was wrongly advised...will I be ok or not.....I would appreciate your input...thanx....Jerrylee///
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,403
Likes: 95
A 454 is a good sized engine If you have a 3 speed
automatic 3.08 rear you may like that cam. if its a 4 speed stick
I would have to have a little more duration, even if it only had the
308 rear, guess it comes down to what rpm range you want your car
to perform in, and how much hp you want. most people are not
interested in adjusting valves and if you can afford one I would go
with a Hydraulic roller, I would not even use a hydraulic flat tappit
in a pickup truck unless I had to money wise. For me I'm for a
solid anything for performance. Just my O2 have fun
automatic 3.08 rear you may like that cam. if its a 4 speed stick
I would have to have a little more duration, even if it only had the
308 rear, guess it comes down to what rpm range you want your car
to perform in, and how much hp you want. most people are not
interested in adjusting valves and if you can afford one I would go
with a Hydraulic roller, I would not even use a hydraulic flat tappit
in a pickup truck unless I had to money wise. For me I'm for a
solid anything for performance. Just my O2 have fun
Last edited by Little Mouse; May 27, 2006 at 08:33 PM.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 599
Likes: 0
From: New York
thanx mouse...my tranny is auto with a overdrive my gears are the 3:08's...as 4 the rpm's....I don't think I will be going that high in the rpm range....when I had the guy build her I basically wanted a torque monster......something with a good burst off the line..........