Re: Lifters? Help please!

Posted by Packard Dude On 2012/1/29 20:15:42

Although this thread is so old it has gray hair...

The difference between a hydraulic and solid cam is the difference in the "ramp". With a solid lifter the lash (.007" on a 288) has to be slowly taken up so there's less impact on the valvetrain. The area between where the lobe profile starts to increase, finally eliminate the lash and actually begins to move the valve is that ramp. Once the lash is taken up the profile becomes much more aggressive.

On a hydraulic cam, because the lifter is always in contact with the cam (no lash) that "ramp" area isn't necessary, and the profile is more linear. The actual, at-the-valve lift is identical, and the duration specs are almost similar between solid and hydraulic, with slight differences being made for displacement and other considerations. The worst that could happen with running solid lifters on a hydraulic cam is stress on the valvetrain, but any actual performance change would be negligible. I would say, in theory, you could run hydraulic lifters on a solid cam, but not vice-versa.

I've "heard" that Kanter's hydraulic lifters are made in China, and therefore not worthy of being installed in a Packard.

Bob in Portland