Gen V BBC lifter question
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Gen V BBC lifter question
I have a comp cams 11-412-8 hydraulic roller cam that will be going into the engine before it gets dropped into the vette. What type of lifters do I need? Ive only seen the style with the link bars. Is that what I need? The lifters currently in there do not have the link bars and there is a different aftermarket cam. TIA for help
Safety Car
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I would pose that question to the folks at Comp Cams. When I bought my cam shaft from Comp Cams they recommended the lifters and springs needed to work with the cam shaft. In order for the parts to work, you need the ones that Comp Cams approves for use with their parts.
Many years ago I built an engine with a kit from Comp Cams that included the Cam, hardware, valve springs, lifters and a double roller cam chain and the lubricant needed to use with the parts. This system worked well because they were made to work with each other.
Many years ago I built an engine with a kit from Comp Cams that included the Cam, hardware, valve springs, lifters and a double roller cam chain and the lubricant needed to use with the parts. This system worked well because they were made to work with each other.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2025
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I have a comp cams 11-412-8 hydraulic roller cam that will be going into the engine before it gets dropped into the vette. What type of lifters do I need? Ive only seen the style with the link bars. Is that what I need? The lifters currently in there do not have the link bars and there is a different aftermarket cam. TIA for help
I would pose that question to the folks at Comp Cams. When I bought my cam shaft from Comp Cams they recommended the lifters and springs needed to work with the cam shaft. In order for the parts to work, you need the ones that Comp Cams approves for use with their parts.
Many years ago I built an engine with a kit from Comp Cams that included the Cam, hardware, valve springs, lifters and a double roller cam chain and the lubricant needed to use with the parts. This system worked well because they were made to work with each other.
Many years ago I built an engine with a kit from Comp Cams that included the Cam, hardware, valve springs, lifters and a double roller cam chain and the lubricant needed to use with the parts. This system worked well because they were made to work with each other.
It seems that (relatively mild) 11-412-8 comp roller is a RETROFIT version (Not intended for use with OE roller lifters).
Link-Bar lifters are typically for use with RETROFIT cams.
Seems GEN V BBC were produced with Either OE flat tappet lifters, Or with OE roller lifters.
There are both OE replacement roller cams AND RETROFIT roller cams.
If you post clear hi-rez pics of front face of block (with cam Removed), AND (with intake manifold Removed) of block's lifter valley; we can determine if your GEN V block is capable of hosting a OE-style roller cam with OE-style roller lifters.
Even when inconvenient, detail's required. GIGO
* FWIW, seems that 11-412-8 roller cam is ground on a Cast Iron core; Unlike all GM BBC & sbc OE Roller Cams (which are ground on much more robust SAE 5150 billet steel cores). Comp (& most others like it) offer same lobe profiles that're available ground on more than one core type material.
Last edited by Rebelyell; Yesterday at 10:33 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2025
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OP Grassfoot43:
No matter what, all roller lifters Must have some means to prevent that lifter from rotating within its lifter bore. OE roller lifters have a pair of flats at lifters' shoulders that are keyed into a lifter guide (aka dogbone) which does prevent roller lifter from rotating within bore.
Aftermarket Retrofit roller lifters typically have Link-Bars; those to prevent lifters from rotating within their bores.
If your GEN V BBC motor Truly has OE roller lifters, it's also a near-certainty it has a "step-nose" cam as well; which uses an OE retainer plate at cam nose. Motors with OE step-nose retainer plate CAN use OE roller lifters (in conjunction w/ OE dogbones).
OTOH, motors without ability to use OE roller lifters must use a "flat-nose" cam and aftermarket Link-Bar roller lifters.
Again, a few good pics of YOUR block face and of YOUR lifter valley will tell the tale.
** for True max-effort race motors; there are also "keyway" Aftermarket roller lifters which (as the name implies) have keyed interface between lifter and bore. Those are an expensive consideration; to both purchase and for required machining & fitment to block.
No matter what, all roller lifters Must have some means to prevent that lifter from rotating within its lifter bore. OE roller lifters have a pair of flats at lifters' shoulders that are keyed into a lifter guide (aka dogbone) which does prevent roller lifter from rotating within bore.
Aftermarket Retrofit roller lifters typically have Link-Bars; those to prevent lifters from rotating within their bores.
If your GEN V BBC motor Truly has OE roller lifters, it's also a near-certainty it has a "step-nose" cam as well; which uses an OE retainer plate at cam nose. Motors with OE step-nose retainer plate CAN use OE roller lifters (in conjunction w/ OE dogbones).
OTOH, motors without ability to use OE roller lifters must use a "flat-nose" cam and aftermarket Link-Bar roller lifters.
Again, a few good pics of YOUR block face and of YOUR lifter valley will tell the tale.
** for True max-effort race motors; there are also "keyway" Aftermarket roller lifters which (as the name implies) have keyed interface between lifter and bore. Those are an expensive consideration; to both purchase and for required machining & fitment to block.
