Schubeck Lifter Update

[Aubrey N Bruneau]

[Bill Brennan]

Are these the new generation of lifters or are these the old original Schubecks???

[Aubrey N Bruneau]

They wrere made in May, 2004, Bill.

New ? Old ?
no idea
I just know that the shattered one just cost me at least another $1500...
and after sacrificing everything but my soul, so I could run this year...
there's now no chance of that happening !

[Jim Hanig]

Aubery Not that this will help much, I had the same thing happen to my 396 in 2000 , they had less than 30 runs on them, Yours look like the new ones, Should you get a nother set check the clearance very close ,I feel they need .0025. good luck with the 09. jim hanig

[larry asa]

I have two just like these. destroyed a brand new L-88 on the dyno on second pull. it will cost a whole lot more than 1.500 to fix.
Trashed: Cam
Lifters
Push rods
Pistons Rings
Block
Gaskets & labor
Larry

[Mark Ruset]

Has anyone every put a paper and pencil to the advantages of running Schubeck lifters say in a sbc 327 as it relates to et. I just wonder is it really worth the expense and potential destruction of a good piece.

[Pelle A]

Are you sure that piston to valve clearance is enough?
What about the condition of valve springs?
I would really recommend you to inspect faces of valves and valve notches on pistons for even the smallest sign of contact, especially at the cyl. with broken lifter.
The ceramics seems not to cope with any axial pounding at all.
I learned my lesson really good last season, wiping out two cams etc. etc.
Also learned that total dismantling of everything, and throughout cleaning after the failure of a Schubeck lifter is absolutly necessary, since the remains becomes an exellent grinding compound...
Schubecks seems to be great as long as they dont take a lot of pounding.

[Aubrey N Bruneau]

I won't be using Schubecks again. I got pretty lucky this time. It happened in the middle of 3rd gear, when the engine suddenly laid down and missed. I thought I had just punctured one more rocker arm, but I DID IMMEDIATELY drop it in neutral, to idle, and shut the engine off. Coasted a 1/4 mile to where my truck / trailer was parked, and rolled right up on the trailer ! ( VERY easy loading trailer ). Pulled the cover right there, and that's when I discovered the issue with the "loose rocker".

My engine had about 2 1/2 hours on it.
Cam.. scored a bit from the edges of the lifter, but otherwise OK ( Of course it gets changed )
Cylinders... a bit of scoring opposite thrust side. It'll hone out
Pistons... skirt coating didn't hurt. I measured... should be able to prep and re-coat. ( VERY loose ! )
Oil pump... un-marked
Crank... un-marked
Bearings... I'll be changing them
Heads... untouched

I do my own work, so I never figure the HORRIBLE job it is to R&R the engine ! ( first driveshaft at transmission, then scattershield and headers, then work on engine removal !... and the engine has to be out in order to remove the pan )

So... Complete disassembly, BIG wash job... and fix it faster !
Doubt it'll be running this season though. From now on, this thing gets no money, unless it comes from something else that I sell !


Mark, this is just my take on it...
Performance advantage of the Schubecks ?
Probably 1 horsepower ( reduced friction )
Really what they do, is tolerate the ridiculous ramps on Stocker-type flat tappet cams... which are the heart of the horsepower.
Probably worth 50+ horses.

Because of course due to the Stock rules, piston-to-valve clearance is at a minimum.
Mine measured .070" on the intake, .045"+ exhauast ( cam is retarded 4 deg ).
Pistons are "clean" in the area where the exh valve gets close, but no evidence of contact.
My rocker arm "puncturing was actually more prone to the intake... the ramp on the intake lobe is a little more aggressive ).


I still have never wiped out ( or even hurt ) a cam lobe, in any engine. ( knocking on my head right now ! )


My plan is to change to the products from Performance Research. IE, tool steel lifters, steel billet cam...
that's why no-rebuild anytime soon !

[Rich Biebel]

Advance the cam and you'd have a little more exhaust clearance. Yes you'd lose intake clearance but since your exhaust side is so tight, I'd move it.... What lobe was the lifter that broke exhaust or intake? I'm not saying it hit since you say there is no mark but I'd be more comfortable with a tighter intake side and most engines like the cam advanced. Shubeck lifters appear to have a real high failure rate and if they have a specific running clearance to the lifter bores......why isn't that info given to the buyer of the lifters!......The Nascar stuff looked like the way to go.......

[Hans Olsson]

Originally Posted by NHRAstocker409

Because of course due to the Stock rules, piston-to-valve clearance is at a minimum.
Mine measured .070" on the intake, .045"+ exhauast ( cam is retarded 4 deg ).
Pistons are "clean" in the area where the exh valve gets close, but no evidence of contact.
My rocker arm "puncturing was actually more prone to the intake... the ramp on the intake lobe is a little more aggressive ).

Aubrey,what method did you use when measuring the piston to valve clearance?