Rhoads OEM Roller Lifters
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 386
Likes: 0
From: Lancaster Lancashire
Rhoads OEM Roller Lifters
I was just wondering if anyone was using these, especially in say a Hot cammed L98 and wondered if they are OK, or not.
http://www.rhoadslifters.com/new_products.html
I used the flat tappets about twenty years ago and found they worked fine (and ticked a bit at idle) I know some people have had problems with them, but I am led to believe most problems (if not all) are due to them not being installed as per the instructions which are a little different than 'normal' hydraulic lifter. I would have thought a MAF car should be easier to set up than a MAP car due to the increases in vacuum, but there again, who knows.
Dave
http://www.rhoadslifters.com/new_products.html
I used the flat tappets about twenty years ago and found they worked fine (and ticked a bit at idle) I know some people have had problems with them, but I am led to believe most problems (if not all) are due to them not being installed as per the instructions which are a little different than 'normal' hydraulic lifter. I would have thought a MAF car should be easier to set up than a MAP car due to the increases in vacuum, but there again, who knows.
Dave
Last edited by Davemc1963-87conv; May 7, 2005 at 03:56 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 783
Likes: 2
From: Wake Forest, NC
St. Jude Donor '05
I haven't used their rolle lifters, but, like you, I used their flat tappets in an old Mach1 Mustang I had and couldn't stand them. I eventually pulled the cam and lifters and replaced them with a matched set from Crane.
The technology behind the lifters was good... making a hotter cam more streetable, but ultimately I didn't like the application. Noticeably, I hated the tapping at idle. It was way too loud for me. I also didn't ever feel like I got the true performance from teh cam that I was expecting.
Once I got rid of the Rhoades stuff and went Crane, I couldn't have been happier.
Of course... that was an old school pushrod motor with teh flat tappets... so the rollers may be completely different.
The technology behind the lifters was good... making a hotter cam more streetable, but ultimately I didn't like the application. Noticeably, I hated the tapping at idle. It was way too loud for me. I also didn't ever feel like I got the true performance from teh cam that I was expecting.
Once I got rid of the Rhoades stuff and went Crane, I couldn't have been happier.
Of course... that was an old school pushrod motor with teh flat tappets... so the rollers may be completely different.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 9,922
Likes: 38
From: South Carolina
St. Jude Donor '03 & '05
I used there old hydraulic lifters in a 454 BB years ago, and they arent nearly as loud as the current set up I have now. But they are different motors, different cams. I would use them, but since I just built the motor again, it will have to wait.
I currently use the Comp Cams R lifters. I personnaly dont like the 1/16 turn, .002-.004 load you set them at, as this is a very iffy set up in my opinion, but it is what the manufacturer says to set them at. So I did.
I have a set of Cranes and another set of Comp Cams R's laying around. if the Rhoads are a decent price, maybe later like I said.
I currently use the Comp Cams R lifters. I personnaly dont like the 1/16 turn, .002-.004 load you set them at, as this is a very iffy set up in my opinion, but it is what the manufacturer says to set them at. So I did.
I have a set of Cranes and another set of Comp Cams R's laying around. if the Rhoads are a decent price, maybe later like I said.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,715
Likes: 27
From: Kempner Texas
I was among the first to run a set of Rhodes lifters right after they were introduced. I had an over-cammed Big Block then and the Rhodes lifters calmed the idle and increased the vacuum, just like the ad said they would.
I was so happy with them that I wrote Rhodes a long letter singing their praises. Rhodes even ran my letter in a series of the advertisements which showed up in some of the hot rod magazines.
Am I entitled to any royalties???
Anybody remember seeing it? You know, "Here's a letter from one of our satisfied customers". I was living in Chicago then.
I found that playing with oil viscosity could fine-tune the ticking sound. No experience with their roller version though.
Jake
I was so happy with them that I wrote Rhodes a long letter singing their praises. Rhodes even ran my letter in a series of the advertisements which showed up in some of the hot rod magazines.
Am I entitled to any royalties???
Anybody remember seeing it? You know, "Here's a letter from one of our satisfied customers". I was living in Chicago then.
I found that playing with oil viscosity could fine-tune the ticking sound. No experience with their roller version though.
Jake
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 386
Likes: 0
From: Lancaster Lancashire
Originally Posted by steve40th
I have a set of Cranes and another set of Comp Cams R's laying around. if the Rhoads are a decent price, maybe later like I said.
I have just bought a new set of standard rollers with my new cam, I wish I had seen the Rhoads before, Summit is pushing them out for $210/set which in my opinion seems a good deal. Certainly cheaper than what I paid for mine.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
I've used the Rhoads in both a 396 Chevy and a 460 ford with good sized cams. They did exactly what they claim. I kind of like the ticking sound-Not quite a solid lifter, but close enough. 
