Pontiac Lifter Guide - Lifter Lowdown

A solid roller lifter can be used with a hydraulic roller camshaft and a lash setting of about 0.006 inch, cold. The main advantage of the combination includes extending the engine's maximum operating rpm by a few hundred from improved valvetrain stability and the fact that the lifter doesn't leak down.

We've also seen instances where customers have successfully installed hydraulic roller lifters on a "tight-lash" solid roller camshaft. We consider a tight-lash solid grind as one that requires less than about 0.020 inch cold lash, and since a hydraulic is designed to run between 0.004 and 0.010 inch, the lifter can take up the lash, operating quietly while maintaining strong high-rpm capability. We do, however, suggest contacting the camshaft and lifter manufacturer(s) to ensure that either combination is compatible.

HPP: Do you see any immediate changes in solid roller lifter technology in general?
BG: Not in the immediate future, but the material, heat-treatment, and coatings industry is changing so rapidly that we can't look forward without seeing opportunities for improvement. The technologies we use today were simply unavailable 10 years ago and I feel that will be the case again 10 years from now.

Comp Cams
Dept. HPP
3406 Democrat Rd.
Memphis, TN 38118
(901) 795-2400
www.compcams.com

Conclusion
For this story, we asked that each company highlight a specific type of lifter in its product line to avoid repetition and to explain the advantages of the various designs of lifters. Please keep in mind most of these same companies, as well as others that were not interviewed, do produce solid and hydraulic flat-tappet lifters, and solid and hydraulic roller lifters

We didn't explore all offerings from all companies, as it wouldn't be practical. However, the presented information should provide a better understanding of the types of lifters presently on the market, how modern technology has affected each, and aid for hobbyists when making camshaft-related decisions.