Hydraulic Roller Lifters

[Martyn-ak427]

Hi Chaps,

The last thing I need to buy for my Ford 393 Windsor engine build is the cam & valvetrain gear. Upto now I have been set on a hydraulic flat lifter but am starting to consider a hydraulic roller lifter. Does anybody run a roller lifter in their engines? I know you gain extra marginal HP from a roller lifter but is it worth the extra expense?

Any info greatly appreciated.

Regards,
Martyn

[TINKA]

I think you will find that to use roller lifters older blocks will need some machining work carried out. They do give a little more power but they are more prone to rattle. The biggest consideration though is the cost of them.

[march717]

you can buy retrofit hydraulic rollers for a ford so theirs no machining
i use them in chevys and fords for the road as i find they lessen the pain associated with flat tappets
they generally run quieter than flat tappet you dont have to run the cam in and they rarely need re setting , paul gd has one in his chevy and has done 10000 miles with out being touched

[wilf]

Yup- roller lifters (std Ford items) in my 408 Windsor stroker. 16,000 miles on it now, never adjusted them again since break-in. Regularly sees 6000rpm.

They are noiser tho'. However, if you get a proper roller lifter cam (lobes can look almost "square") then you will benefit from the better breathing (valves off the seats quicker, held at higher lifts for longer).

The Ford OEM lifters are fine (and cheap) for cams that are not totally "radical", i.e. where valve spring on-seat pressures are not sky high.

[mikey]

Wilf is spot on - mainly though roller lifters are used to enable you to use a much more aggressive cam lift. If you are sticking to a mild cam I wouldn't bother with the expense myself. Go Hydraulic if you do rather than solid. I'm on a solid roller cam and I have to set the tappets after 2000 miles and yes they are noisy.

You will only see a signifacant benefit if the engine is built to allow the cams potential to be used, breathing etc etc.
Mike