Solid Roller Life Span
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 945
Likes: 0
From: Ventura California
Several of the lifter manufacturers now make solid roller lifters with a small "Oil groove" machined into the roller trunnion that allows pressure oil to get down to the roller bearing. The main prob before this was a lack of adequate oil at idle speeds. With the oil groove, the lifter should last quite a long time. Years....
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
You need to look at HP per number of $$$$. H-flat cams can be setup to run 7000 rpm. Solid flat cams near 8000 rpm.
Roller cams are very expensive per HP gained. So IMO do every other HP mod first.
Roller cams are very expensive per HP gained. So IMO do every other HP mod first.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
Historically, the problem with solid rollers on the street has been insufficient oiling at low rpm. Newer designed lifters with grooves, or with EDM oil injection such as Comp's Endure-X line, are supposed to cope with that problem much better, but I'm aware going in that I'll eventually be utilizing CompCam's rebuild program. It's just part of the price of pushing beyond the limits of a hyd. grind.
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 10,674
Likes: 122
From: Millington Illinois
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Motorhead has 25,000 on his. Meticulously maintained. Don't know if he replaced anything during that time. For a daily driver I would go Hydraulic roller. JMHO
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Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,883
Likes: 124
From: Lubbock TX
Unless Comp made some major changes when they redesigned their EndureX, they're not any better than stock. Their setup squirts oil at the needle wheel, doesn't get it to the needles where needed. Both Isky and Crower have designs that actually gets pressurized oil to the needles. This has helped a lot with durability.
Isky's new lifter uses a proprietary material bushing rather than needles. Tests look very hopeful, time will tell if it'll work as advertized.
Isky's new lifter uses a proprietary material bushing rather than needles. Tests look very hopeful, time will tell if it'll work as advertized.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
CompCams' current EDM oil injection system "ensures the bearing assembly receives a constant flow of pressurized oil." It is no longer a simple external cut down the outer face from the body oil groove to the general area of the roller, but an internal passage straight to the bearing needles. Also, the axle diameter has been enlarged.
I can't get Isky's sight to respond this minute and Crower's catalog navigation seems to end with the contents page, or I'd pull up a comparo... In any event, since I only live a few minutes from Comp and have always been satisfied with their products, I'll stay with who I know.
I can't get Isky's sight to respond this minute and Crower's catalog navigation seems to end with the contents page, or I'd pull up a comparo... In any event, since I only live a few minutes from Comp and have always been satisfied with their products, I'll stay with who I know.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,253
Likes: 1
From: East China MI
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
Solid Roller Lifters
Comps are now oiled directly to the needle baerings.
Small blocks will outlast big blocks on the street about 2 to1.
Rev kits are a must on big blocks.
I have some small blocks on the street for over 10 years. Still low mileage cars. I have big blocks for over 5 years and in the area of 2500 miles.
Valve springs have to be watched very closely.
I would also recommend backing the rocker arms on the big blocks down to 1.6 intakes and 1.5 exhausts. They will extend the lifter life.
Harry P.Hunter
Small blocks will outlast big blocks on the street about 2 to1.
Rev kits are a must on big blocks.
I have some small blocks on the street for over 10 years. Still low mileage cars. I have big blocks for over 5 years and in the area of 2500 miles.
Valve springs have to be watched very closely.
I would also recommend backing the rocker arms on the big blocks down to 1.6 intakes and 1.5 exhausts. They will extend the lifter life.
Harry P.Hunter
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,676
Likes: 201
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
I had one roller brinnelling at the 25,000 mile mark, I replaced them all, these are the orginal Comp solid rollers with no oiling whatsoever, gotta keep and eye on them and don't let it idle more than a few seconds at time 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
That may extend life, but I don't want to give up the high lift which was a big reason I went to the solid roller for in the first place. So, I'm staying with 1.7's...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,164
Likes: 7
From: Beringen
one thing I would like to know is wheter or not you guys are using oil restrictors ?
I would think that needle bearing lifters would not suffer to much from a little less oil, unless heat gets to be a problem. Technically needle bearings are mostly used in place with restricted oiling...
By the way i did not use oil restrictors as per instructions from Crane.
I would think that needle bearing lifters would not suffer to much from a little less oil, unless heat gets to be a problem. Technically needle bearings are mostly used in place with restricted oiling...
By the way i did not use oil restrictors as per instructions from Crane.
