Rhodes lifters?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 764
Likes: 19
From: odessa FL
Rhodes lifters?
Anyone have experiance with Rhodes lifters in an LS engine? Im putting together parts for a forged LS6 STS engine build. Cam is relatively mild, 227/223 ~.600 lift, 115LSA. Springs are TFS rated to .650. Goal is to preserve the low end drivability and rapid spool for the rearmounts.Boost will be ~15#.
I have run Rhodes flat tappets for years with no problems. I was able to prove on the dyno ~10% better low end torque with no loss on the top end on a back to back test [a wager was riding on this] and have also found I could run about 10 degrees more duration than I could otherwise and get more top end while remaining streetable.
The concern I have is the LS lacks adjustable valvetrain, but I will need custom length pushrods anyway with milled TFS heads. I dont mind a little noise. Anyone had any failures?
I have run Rhodes flat tappets for years with no problems. I was able to prove on the dyno ~10% better low end torque with no loss on the top end on a back to back test [a wager was riding on this] and have also found I could run about 10 degrees more duration than I could otherwise and get more top end while remaining streetable.
The concern I have is the LS lacks adjustable valvetrain, but I will need custom length pushrods anyway with milled TFS heads. I dont mind a little noise. Anyone had any failures?
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,582
Likes: 136
From: SoCal CA
My friend had them in his LS2 for about a year. They were super noisy, annoyingly noisy. They also bled off way too much pressure at low rpms and even up top. He replaced them with regular LS7 lifters and its a world of difference. It sounds much better and he says he feels he has more power all around. I really wouldnt use them on a LSx motor, the valvetrain is loud enough.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 622
Likes: 169
From: Montgomery Texas
Rhodes lifters will effectively tame a cam that has too much duration for street duty. By your own admission, the cam that you are using has relatively mild duration and LSA numbers. Rhodes lifters will also decrease the lift at low RPMs, but lift does not adversely affect your idle quality and low RPM torque, like duration and LSA will.
IMHO, adding Rhodes lifters to your setup would be a solution to a problem that does not exist.
IMHO, adding Rhodes lifters to your setup would be a solution to a problem that does not exist.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,484
Likes: 27
From: Torrance Calif
They are noisy.
You have to have major pre-load to get rid of that.
I ran them with no complaint other then the noise.
When I got the chance, I stopped screwing around and installed MORELS.
You want adjustable?
Check out the Comp Cams #1500 system (I use this on my CTS-V (LS6))
You have to have major pre-load to get rid of that.
I ran them with no complaint other then the noise.
When I got the chance, I stopped screwing around and installed MORELS.
You want adjustable?
Check out the Comp Cams #1500 system (I use this on my CTS-V (LS6))
Last edited by heavymetals; Oct 19, 2012 at 01:48 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 764
Likes: 19
From: odessa FL
I can compansate for the preload with the right length pushrods. I already have Harland Sharp rollers, but non adjustable. I can live with some noise. My flat tappet experiance wasnt objectionable.
One of the major complaints about rear mount turbos [esp STS] is the lag time. Right now, with a stock cam and 3.90 gears, there is barely any lag at all. Also, it drives like a stocker until the boost hits. This is what I want to keep. Granted, the cam is mild [ a custom rear mount turbo profile] but the increased duration, while good for power and extended RPM range, may worsen the lag time.
One of the major complaints about rear mount turbos [esp STS] is the lag time. Right now, with a stock cam and 3.90 gears, there is barely any lag at all. Also, it drives like a stocker until the boost hits. This is what I want to keep. Granted, the cam is mild [ a custom rear mount turbo profile] but the increased duration, while good for power and extended RPM range, may worsen the lag time.
