H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.

[Rich Biebel]

I’m glad I was not the first one to say WHY ?

Geez.

I built a low buck 350 for my buddy when he first started racing.

Cast HyperE pistons, cast crank, stock rods, flat tappet cam with .012” EDM’d lifters

Cam had .500+ lift I’m sure and 400lbs open pressure or dang near it.

It lived for years and went 10’s in a 2800-2900 lb Camaro running brackets and S/ST and the engine got sold running minus top end ....

[Nmbr1GMfan]

Originally Posted by Rich Biebel

I’m glad I was not the first one to say WHY ?

Geez.

I built a low buck 350 for my buddy when he first started racing.

Cast HyperE pistons, cast crank, stock rods, flat tappet cam with .012” EDM’d lifters

Cam had .500+ lift I’m sure and 400lbs open pressure or dang near it.

It lived for years and went 10’s in a 2800-2900 lb Camaro running brackets and S/ST and the engine got sold running minus top end ....

This makes no sense to me. You did the same thing only with the EDM lifter.

[Glenn Briglio]

Originally Posted by Nmbr1GMfan

This makes no sense to me. You did the same thing only with the EDM lifter.

What size are those grooves? Lifters have edm holes? Didn't you have an oiling problem already?

[Rich Biebel]

Cutting grooves in the lifter bores can’t be undone.

Using the EDM hole lifters is an option and can be changed.

Some Stocker racers use Schubecks or Trend lifters and run tons of spring pressure.

The engine I built was low buck and the lifters were cheap.

It had good oil pressure and never hurt the bottom end

You could have used the edm lifters with no grooves and if that worked you were good. If it didn’t you could step up to better lifters. No grooves to complicate the build.

[Nmbr1GMfan]

Originally Posted by Rich Biebel

Cutting grooves in the lifter bores can’t be undone.

Using the EDM hole lifters is an option and can be changed.

Some Stocker racers use Schubecks or Trend lifters and run tons of spring pressure.

The engine I built was low buck and the lifters were cheap.

It had good oil pressure and never hurt the bottom end

You could have used the edm lifters with no grooves and if that worked you were good. If it didn’t you could step up to better lifters. No grooves to complicate the build.

I have 4 sets of lifters, I tried EDM lifters and didn't like them. My preference is the groved block with non EDMs. I know not everything I'm doing or have done will be popular, and I'm ok with that. In my opinion there will never be advancement if we all do the same thing. I could have called any engine builder and had one built, I could have just paid 50k for a sorted out car, not my style. I appreciate all the help and advice, but sometimes I just gotta be me.

[HP HUNTER]

Originally Posted by Nmbr1GMfan

I have 4 sets of lifters, I tried EDM lifters and didn't like them. My preference is the groved block with non EDMs. I know not everything I'm doing or have done will be popular, and I'm ok with that. In my opinion there will never be advancement if we all do the same thing. I could have called any engine builder and had one built, I could have just paid 50k for a sorted out car, not my style. I appreciate all the help and advice, but sometimes I just gotta be me.

Hey.......when I get get something in my head I won't be stopped either
(just ask Dissident) carry on.......just be sure to show us the results.

[Dissident]

I fully realize that I have no skin nor treasure in the project that Todd and Autumn have shared.

However, when it comes to some technical items and issues, I think it is necessary to make those issues obvious before one goes down a problematic pathway that may be paved with lots of "he said, they said, everybody knows..." kinds of guidelines.

For a SBC (2.45" mains, 2.1" rods) with normal racing clearances, it is worthwhile to note the resultant internal oil leakage sources.

These data are as listed from items indicated:
Lifters (16) = total diameter of an orifice = 0.2323"
Cam brgs (5) = total diameter of an orifice = 0.2369"
Rod brgs (8) = total diameter of an orifice = 0.2899"
Main brgs (5) = total diameter of an orifice = 0.2476"
Will leave it to others to evaluate what those orifices flow in gpm at various pressures. It is quite eye opening!

Anyway you might look at it, that is a lot of leakage when you consider whatever psi one might want to evaluate. A builder is logically charged with the responsibility of how much and how to control the leakage paths. Sorry for the brief hijack of this otherwise very interesting thread.

Regards to All,
HB2
Dissident

[Nmbr1GMfan]

Originally Posted by Glenn Briglio

What size are those grooves? Lifters have edm holes? Didn't you have an oiling problem already?

Grooves are .006, no edm holes in the lifter. This engine ran fine for years with grooved lifter bores (as have others), current oiling issues are not related to this.

[Larry Hill]

The groves look wider than the thickness of two hairs.