[Johnny406]

I'm finally going to go to a solid roller cam for my next motor, a 4 bolt forged crank 428 Pontiac. With that said, would I be better off going to a direct lube style solid lifter (Howard's 91457) or a good old fashioned Lunati solid lifters with restrictors? Please tell me if I'm wrong but the Howards have a bit more oil up top but with lubing the lobe, I could more effectively use a windage tray and/or crank scraper. With regular solid lifters, restrictors will help with the oil staying low but I should allow aeration/splash to lube the lobes? Again, this is new to me, I have only used flat tappet cams to this point.

[Steve C.]

CROWER solid roller lifters with the Hi-Pressure Pin Oiler option.

Many will suggest aeration/splash lube is irrelevant with the hole that delivers oil direct from the oil band to the needle bearings.


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[Steve C.]

I had a recent conversation regarding my IA2 block and the amount of oil held up inside the block itself under running conditions. In a round about way it relates here with the comments made within our conversation. I'd rather not state with whom, but trust me it is from a VERY reputable source within our community.

"Good afternoon Steve: We went through so much aggravation with the oiling system on the funny car, but I can't answer your question. I can be somewhat contrite and just say way, way too much to the top and not nearly enough to the main and rod bearings. I know this sounds very non-scientific, but that's what these engines tell us from the way the parts look after racing them. The IA II has basically the same oiling system volume as a stock block with this minor improvement only."

( he made comments regarding the improvements but I will eliminate them here as it does not relate to my point )

But he goes on... "As far as the top end which is what you are concerned with, I honestly feel .030" restrictors are plenty big enough for a race engine. You just can't believe how much oil makes it's way to the top through a .030" hole! It just seems to be plenty of oil for non-bearing surfaces, springs, rockers, and so forth. Giant, heavy crankshaft, needs as much oil as you can put down there IMO."

And keep in mind the Crower solid roller lifters are edge orifice oiling. I presume the internal passages are a restriction of sort.


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[Johnny406]

Thank you Steve, I did order a set of restrictors from Butler but what you wrote really has me thinking because the Butler restrictors are .045. I haven't received them yet so I'm not locked into anything yet.

https://butlerperformance.com/search...oil+restrictor

[Steve C.]

Same source....

"Solid roller cam 95% street engine. Power Tour type build. I will use .040 restrictors in that one. 80# Melling Select pump."

And from Butlers web site:

Pontiac Oiling System Diagram
Download PDF to determine if you need Oil Restrictors

https://butlerperformance.com/rt-4939-tech.html

( Information from Butlers site provided in this post does not represent a product endorsement. And unless specified it is not based on personal experience and is offered for general interest only )



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[AG]

I use Crower HIPPO SR lifters in the race car with Smith Brothers 0.040" restricted PRs. The top end gets plenty of oiling with the set-up and no issues so far. The car is on the milder side for a race car, shift at 6500 rpm and go across the line at 6700 rpm. Lash never goes out of spec.

[Steve C.]

To show how opinions will differ and posted here ONLY as another tid bit for conversation, posted on a another Pontiac web site about 10 years ago related to street use .....

"The Crower lifters are "self-metering", but the restrictors have no negative affect. IMO, restricting the oil BEFORE it gets to the lifter will "force" more oil to the mains where its needed. Use .060 restrictors for street use, so enough oil gets to the top to cool the valve springs. Drag race engines can use a .030"restrictor."

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[Richie Hoffman]

crower lifters no restrictors restrict the pushrods if you want i build many bracket engines i will only use crower lifters in solid roller and solid flat tappet combinations

[Dragncar]

I have had .030 restrictors in my bracket engine FOREVER. The new engine, thinking about restricting at the pushrods.

[Jack Ferris]

I ran the Comp 859 rollers and .035 restrictors for 25 years. I had 2 sets that I would rotate yearly and send one set back to Comp for servicing. These were non pressure fed. 1000+ passes with no problems. I have since retired them but they are still as good as the day I bought them. I always used .440 lobes with them and kept up on spring pressure religiously.

[Half-Inch Stud]

Originally Posted by Jack Ferris

I ran the Comp 859 rollers and .035 restrictors for 25 years. I had 2 sets that I would rotate yearly and send one set back to Comp for servicing. These were non pressure fed. 1000+ passes with no problems. I have since retired them but they are still as good as the day I bought them. I always used .440 lobes with them and kept up on spring pressure religiously.

Can you share Spring part #, seat and open Lbs, and installed height.

[Jack Ferris]

Isky RAD 9000 Tool Room
250 @ 1.950
620 @ 1.246
# 9968RAD

[ponjohn]

Sounds like the solid rollers are more reliable than the hyd roller lifters.

[Half-Inch Stud]

Originally Posted by Jack Ferris

Isky RAD 9000 Tool Room
250 @ 1.950
620 @ 1.246
# 9968RAD

Thanks

[mgarblik]

Originally Posted by ponjohn

Sounds like the solid rollers are more reliable than the hyd roller lifters.

Yes and they sound wonderful when adjusted properly. Not to mention a substantial performance advantage above 5K RPM's. My next build for the street will be a mild solid roller with good connecting rods so I can shift safely at 6500 RPM.

[Johnny406]

I'm looking forward to this, a forged crank 4-bolt 428 with Eagle rods and Venolia pistons should work much better with the PG than my tired rpm limited 2-bolt cast crank HFT cammed 463. I still have the TH-400 just encase/spare tranny anyways.

[firechickenman]

I've been running the same set of 859-16 Comp Endurex lifters in mine since 2015. No restrictors. They have survived a few hundred passes and over 5000 street miles without issue. XE Street Roller lobes with relatively light spring pressure (180/450).