Best lifter alternative to pro-magnums
 

was running the comp 863 pro-magnum lifters.......found two with the push rod plunger retainers broken after 5yrs of service.......

really dont want to chance that the remaining ones are gonna hold.......whats the best alternative lifter????

Having had issues with Comp lifters out of the box several years ago I went to standard Crowers with no issues 6 years now running unknown springs but clearly intended for a solid no less. Back in the "old days" I never had issues with Crane Erson Crower Rhoades and first set of comps 3 lifters wouldnt fill with oil and pump in a jar let alone make it to my engine. Warranty set had issues as well and I sent them back for a refund. Yes that was near peak of hydraulic cam lifter failure period and may be corrected at this time but I'm leary of Comp lifters now.

Well,that's kinda why I go to solid cams/lifters for anything over appx. mid 230ish duration @ .050".

It's not that big hydraulics wont "work" at all.

It's just that bigger hydraulic cams tend to see more time in a higher RPM range as that's where those cams are meant to run,and that sorta RPM range is exactly where problems with hydraulic lifters start becoming a far more common occurence.

So,should I expect the combo to regularly see over say 5200 to 5500 RPM,I tend to go to a solid as SOP.

I've seen more hydraulic lifters "spit their guts out" than I care to mention.

AFAIK no brand/type of hydraulic lifter is completely immune to that phenomenon.

Some may be a little better than others,,,but I dont like to take chances very much...

Last set of hydraulic lifters I bought were Johnson/speed-pro,and those were purchased over 10 years ago for another combo and never used,so that was back before all the "lifter drama" happened.

Those lifters were bought for a mild 9:1 455 with a crower #60210 cam,that engine combo was meant for strictly under 5200 RPM use as it's an all cast bottom end.

I plan to go thru that engine someday down the road,and when I do it'll get forged rods & pistons,and a Crower #60311 solid cam.

I'll probably put a little more gear,converter & tire in it then too,right now it has 2400-2600 converter and 3.23's with 235-60-15's,and I'd probably go to 2800-3000 converter & 3.42's with 275-60-15's.

Anyhow,I digress.

So my vote would be to go with a solid cam & lifters and forget about those issues.

FWIW

Bret P.

Were the retainers steel wire, sheet steel, or C-rings?

Why not just run a set of Sealed Power std lifters. Valve springs create 90% of valve train issues.

Agree with SC and think you would be a whole bunch happier with a solid.

Solids are simple reliable and can be relatively quiet too.

Still regret not putting a solid in my wifes car back when I did the cam. Not that I'm unhappy with the Crower 60916 hydraulic but I'm pretty certain I could do a solid that would out perform it EVERYWHERE.

Forget about hydraulics, flat tappet hydraulics are best for the history books. Your engine will idle better and run stronger with a solid lifer cam so why bother with hydraulics.

Tim C

dont even have to change the cam

went with the Rhoads vmax lifters.....

From what I remember my old Pro Comps had a stamped steel one way clip-not a wire or snap ring.

Those Lifters will help put u into the 11's Mike!.. That is my prediction :D
They actually make the cam act like it is advanced increasing cylinder pressure, not sure where u are at now with your cam?

the Rhodes make more noise than solid lifters but they may help your low end torque if you have a big cam

Whats the point?

A PROPER choice of Solid cam WILL IMPROVE your low end torque and make more top end power and more often than not run quieter than Rhoades lifters!!!!


The WRONG choice of any cam gets you poor results plain and simple. You cant expect a solid cam with only 269/277 advertised duration 240/248 at .050 cam lift 112 LSA 108 ICL, dont care how much lift, to out power a 60919 with RHOADES lifters either on a well sorted 455 combo.

Oh snap. :fear:

Yeah,I could make a comment or two on that deal,but I REALLY dont need the aggravation and ridicule that almost certainly would follow said comments.

:bolt:

Bret P.

OOps! I'll take the hit if it comes. Didnt want to stir the pot actually.Not really the testers fault anyhow. I'm pretty certain he didnt pick it himself. Cost him though. Result would make me gun shy too if my first solid cam went that way. Well at least we know that particular one works great in an appropriate application. We all learned something from it if you think about it.

The one time I ran Rhoads they were noisier than the solid roller I ran.

LOL yeah i couldn't handle the noise of Rhoads myself
I like just putting the right cam in the first place and if you want to tune with a camshaft go with a solid cam, its fun running lash loops to get down the track quicker, if any of you guys need help getting a Hydraulic cam to work OR any other cam/ valvetrain setup feel free to give me a shout! Derek

you guys ran the vmax or the original??........my intent was not to change my cam.....just looking for a good quality lifter.......if I can gain a little low end power and enhanced vacuum, all the better...

I was also inspired by Jim Hands recent post ......Judging from his performance, Hydraulic cams can still perform very well indeed..

I will report my observations.......

Not to hijack this post but are the comp 852 lifters junk i have a set still in the box from a year ago, they have the steel wire retainers ? thanks jess

done with installation........lashed lifters to .015 (the vmax lifters lash like solids)........not obnoxious at all....

....idles better.....vacuum signal to carb much better...
4" more vacuum....pulls HARD on top end and has loads of torque on the bottom end.....

two thumbs up for the Rhoads vmax lifters..