Billet cams and lifter supply

[nolongerracing]

I don't know what the answer is, but it's not a roller cam!!!

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by nolongerracing

I don't know what the answer is, but it's not a roller cam!!!

I think that we all know the "answer". Some people on here just want to change the "question"!

[jmantle]

I know Schubecks have garnered a lot of flack over the years and I've seen the damage they can do when they come apart but I've run the same set for 12 seasons and they don't look any different from the day I installed them. I do run more spring pressure than I probably have to trying to make sure they stay in contact with the cam and the cam is starting to show some signs of wear but very little.
I can't believe in this day and age someone can't come out with an "improved" ceramic lifter, especially now that we can run solids and don't need room in the body for the hydraulic plunger.
I doubt any manufacturer out there is going to make roller cams and lifters for my combo so I'll be stuck with a flat tappet setup regardless.

Jim Mantle V/SA 6632

[john ancona]

Originally Posted by jmantle

I know Schubecks have garnered a lot of flack over the years and I've seen the damage they can do when they come apart but I've run the same set for 12 seasons and they don't look any different from the day I installed them. I do run more spring pressure than I probably have to trying to make sure they stay in contact with the cam and the cam is starting to show some signs of wear but very little.
I can't believe in this day and age someone can't come out with an "improved" ceramic lifter, especially now that we can run solids and don't need room in the body for the hydraulic plunger.
I doubt any manufacturer out there is going to make roller cams and lifters for my combo so I'll be stuck with a flat tappet setup regardless.

Jim Mantle V/SA 6632

I again ask ,and I add with (no response) how many orders do the two manufactures have at this time ,also it would be interesting to know out of the about 1700 stock eliminator with NHRA numbers even need a ceramic lifter or tool steel lifters that may help answer the questions why Smith went out of business ,and no one has stepped in to make either one

[John Duzac]

Originally Posted by nolongerracing

I don't know what the answer is, but it's not a roller cam!!!

Looking at the photograph of damage to the cam lobe makes me ask one question. What brand/type of oil was used in this engine?

The reason why I ask is my new 350 engine had about 30 runs on it and began to run slower and slower. I checked the leak down and one hole had 40%. I sent the engine back to my engine builder. It was discovered that all 8 pistons were ruined, along with the tool steel lifters. I always used Joe Gibbs oil and never had any problems. Gibbs oil was sold and manufactured under the name of DRIVEN oil. Samples of the used oil were sent in for testing. The results have not been received yet. Has anyone had issues using DRIVEN oil?

[nolongerracing]

Originally Posted by John Duzac

Looking at the photograph of damage to the cam lobe makes me ask one question. What brand/type of oil was used in this engine?

The reason why I ask is my new 350 engine had about 30 runs on it and began to run slower and slower. I checked the leak down and one hole had 40%. I sent the engine back to my engine builder. It was discovered that all 8 pistons were ruined, along with the tool steel lifters. I always used Joe Gibbs oil and never had any problems. Gibbs oil was sold and manufactured under the name of DRIVEN oil. Samples of the used oil were sent in for testing. The results have not been received yet. Has anyone had issues using DRIVEN oil?

This is a "steel" stocker cam that had Shubeck lifters. 240/500 spring pressure. VR1 oil most of the time. Gibbs or Driven when needed. May have 200 runs on it. 15 of the 16 lobes are like this. Notice it's in the same place on the lobe. Joe Shubeck told me this is from a poor core or poor heat treat. He said to treat the cam lobe as a new "highway". As soon as the first little imperfection is found and tires keep rolling over the same area you create a "chuck hole". Thats what we have here.

[nolongerracing]

Nitride cast cam. 200/400 spring pressures. The most common issue. Tool steel or Shubeck lifters. Didn't matter. Oil, didn't matter. I was told by a cam salesman that if you got a year out of a cam like this you were "doing good". Thats why we switched to steel cams. The problem continues.
Going back to "pure stock" rules will not help. Just lost a few lobes in a stock rebuild 350 Chevy. We did everything we could for break in. Oil, additive, 1.2 rockers, 1/2 hour run time, etc, etc,. Cores are junk, lifters are junk, oil is junk, heat treat is junk.
Hate to say it.. Seems to start with the EPA!! We can't build what we need!!

[GTX JOHN]

I still run the old Isky cams that I got from them in the
80s and 90s and actual Hydraulic Schubecks from 20 =
years ago. Some same old valve springs 165 seat and some
beehives on a couple cars. Never a problem I still can run 1+
under (Some of our cars even well more) when I want it too.
Engines in a couple cars are 8 plus years of regular racing. Plus
with just only one valve job.

I am sure I am a tenth or two behind the curve
of the top dogs. However, I am not spending a lot of money to race
and I still win more heads up than I lose. NO valve train issues.

[Stan Weiss]

Originally Posted by nolongerracing

Nitride cast cam. 200/400 spring pressures. The most common issue. Tool steel or Shubeck lifters. Didn't matter. Oil, didn't matter. I was told by a cam salesman that if you got a year out of a cam like this you were "doing good". Thats why we switched to steel cams. The problem continues.
Going back to "pure stock" rules will not help. Just lost a few lobes in a stock rebuild 350 Chevy. We did everything we could for break in. Oil, additive, 1.2 rockers, 1/2 hour run time, etc, etc,. Cores are junk, lifters are junk, oil is junk, heat treat is junk.
Hate to say it.. Seems to start with the EPA!! We can't build what we need!!

If the EPA is the problem than making the parts outside the USA would fix it.


How many vehicles today run OHC on bucket setups? Which is nothing more then the cam against a flat tappet



Stan

[Rory McNeil]

Originally Posted by Stan Weiss

If the EPA is the problem than making the parts outside the USA would fix it.


How many vehicles today run OHC on bucket setups? Which is nothing more then the cam against a flat tappet



Stan

Totally different situation. The OHC engines with buckets have no rocker arms, lifters or pushrods, so the valve springs are generally much less tension, since the weight of the valve train is so much lighter. Even more so with a 4 valve head, since the valves are considerably smaller, as are the spring diameters and retainers. Also, the buckets do not need to rotate like a flat tappet cam, and the cam lobes are not ground on a taper, to promote rotation.