What is a Solid Roller?
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 205
Likes: 6
From: Mission Viejo California
OK I'll start the ball rolling. I assume you are talking about the cam shaft.
Solid means 'solid lifters' as apposed to Hydraulic (oil filled) lifters.
The 'roller' part of the question is the rocker arms. The tip that pushes the
valve open will have bearings in it to reduce friction. Solid lifters require
adjustment as the wear, hydraulic do not.
Solid means 'solid lifters' as apposed to Hydraulic (oil filled) lifters.
The 'roller' part of the question is the rocker arms. The tip that pushes the
valve open will have bearings in it to reduce friction. Solid lifters require
adjustment as the wear, hydraulic do not.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 672
Likes: 1
From: Sapulpa Oklahoma
Sort of correct. A solid roller cam uses "solid" roller lifters instead of hydraulic roller lifters such as the factory cam in a C6. The advantage to a solid roller lifter is that its constant in its setting where a hydraulic version can change by letting the pushrod move in and out with oil pressure and valve spring pressure (its preloaded to compensate for all conditions). Solid lifters are also typically lighter allowing a higher rpm without valve float (less mass in motion). Solids also make slightly more noise so they can be an issue with the computer sensors if not programmed out.
Roller rocker arms can be used with any type of camshaft.
Roller rocker arms can be used with any type of camshaft.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,796
Likes: 1
From: Annandale VA
Another disadvantage of all solid lifter cams, whether they are flat tappet or roller tappet, is that the valve lash (distance between the rocker tip and the top of the pushrod) must be adjusted on a regular basis. This involves pulling the valver covers off, using a feeler gauge, and the use of adjustable rocker arms. Very old school!
Noisy valve train is an understatement. You can hear a solid lifter cam a mile away.
Noisy valve train is an understatement. You can hear a solid lifter cam a mile away.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,271
Likes: 182
From: Manassas VA
Solid roller lifters are usually used on high performance race cars. If paired with a good rocker arm setup like shaft mounted Jesel they can be run pretty much all season without adjustment. i might check mine after every 25 passes or so on the race car. They seldom if ever need adjustment unless something is going away like the lifter roller. In that case it's replace the lifter.
Their real disadvantage is that they are not well oiled at low rpm's and are subject to bad wearing in the needle bearings of the roller if subjected to a lot of low speed operation such as stuck in traffic. Some recent models from racing manufacturers have electrochemical machined oil holes feeding the needle bearings and these may be suitable for street use. These type lifters are currently going for about 550 or so for a set of 16.
The real advantage is you can have a really fast cam lobe slope and thus open and close the valves really quickly enabling high lifts without severe valve overlap.
If done properly you can have almost race car valve timing (with the high rpm horsepower) without the terrible idle and low rpm operation such valve timing would give with other type of lifters because the cam lobe slopes would have to be less and result in more overlap.
Their real disadvantage is that they are not well oiled at low rpm's and are subject to bad wearing in the needle bearings of the roller if subjected to a lot of low speed operation such as stuck in traffic. Some recent models from racing manufacturers have electrochemical machined oil holes feeding the needle bearings and these may be suitable for street use. These type lifters are currently going for about 550 or so for a set of 16.
The real advantage is you can have a really fast cam lobe slope and thus open and close the valves really quickly enabling high lifts without severe valve overlap.
If done properly you can have almost race car valve timing (with the high rpm horsepower) without the terrible idle and low rpm operation such valve timing would give with other type of lifters because the cam lobe slopes would have to be less and result in more overlap.
