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For some race engine applications hardened caps are placed on the tips of the valve stems. In this case the lock must have a recess for to accept the lash cap.
Our SBCs do not use lash caps so must have a lock without this recess.
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St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Originally Posted by Hippiehead025
whats the purpose of lash caps, im lookin for valve locks and they say recess for lash caps? so what they do?
I'm not sure what you mean. Are you talking about the little cup-like devices that go over the top of the valve stem and make contact with the rocker arm? I've seen these on engines that I consider to be of very high quality and well engineered but have never run across them in a high RPM or performance oriented application. Always willing to learn though!
I'm no valvetrain expert but I do know that in some high perf. applications guys will run a small diameter valvestem and sodium filled valves in order to reduce flow restriction and weight. The smaller diameter valvestems may not provide enough surface area for the roller rocker to contact so the lash cap provides the lost surface area. I used these on a 468 BBC I had at one time, many years ago.
Lash caps are typically used in race applications with extremely high valve spring pressure that with some valves can cause premature wear on the valve stems. You must have the correct retainers and locks to use them though...I wouldn't consider it with the camshafts that street engines use.
I used lash caps on my engine. I'm using a solid roller cam and expect to see 8000rpm regularly. They will also extent the life of stainless valves with increased spring pressures and can be used to correct valve train geometry.
my cam is 510/510 at 220/230 114. using 1.6 rockers ( full roller) i have No idea what springs to use yet. can sum1 givem e insight, and whether or not i should use lash caps? its goin on a SC motor tht should be around 750 hp.
call the cam manufacturer and ask them, they can tell you the pros and cons better than anyone. I used comp cams cam, springs, locks, tiatinum retainers, pro magnum roller rockers, stud girdle and their lash caps. The lash caps are picked by the diameter of the valve stem.