I have been trying to pick out a new cam all winter. I keep getting mixed response as to running solid vs hyd on my street/strip 68 chevelle. Why would someone not run a solid as far as performance? The Doug Herbert mechanical is nearly identical to the Voodoo 276/284 hyd. Is over 6,000 RPM the only place a mechanical will out perform a hyd? Does anyone have links to other posts or websites about this? BTW .03 over 396, 215 heads ported and polished larger valves, Edelbrock intake, holley 700 DP, muncie 4spd, 4.10 12 bolt posi, all polygraphite bushings front and back except for rear upper adjustable.

The advantage of a solid lifter is in the performance. There is some gain at low RPM, but high RPM is really where they perform.

The advantage of hydralic lifters is the maintainence(or lack there of). You rarely if ever have to worry about valve lash adjustment.

Someone else that knows more will elaborate, but that is a start.

Erik

So besides having to adjust your valves once in a while, and maybe replacing your springs more often. Is there any disadvatages to running a solid flat tappet on the street?

So besides having to adjust your valves once in a while, and maybe replacing your springs more often. Is there any disadvatages to running a solid flat tappet on the street?

IMO, no, except you have a little more valve train noise. If you start with the correct springs, you won't have to change them either. My solid (in my 454) ran 60K before it needed work (but the whole engine needed it by then).
When I switched from a Hyd to a solid the first time, the spec's where almost exactly the same. The difference in performance was very noticeable, especially when you hit around 3K. Hyd perform well, but I don't put them in the same class as Solid.

Fred.

NO, as long as it is sized with-in reason!

And everybody's thought's on what "with-in reason" is, will vary b/c some guys like as close to 100 percent hardcore as they can push the envelope and other's don't want to go so wild.

I'm in the latter cat. with my mild CC 282S solid cam..

pdq67

Also, a solid grind of similar powerband will actually be a smoother idling/better behaved cam for the street as opposed to a similar hydraulic. Big hydraulic cams get ratty quick. I attribute this to more accurate valve timing and quicker acceleration of the ramps, i.e., more " area under the curve" for a given seat duration.

They say they're worth 3-5%, but the only comparo I;ve ever seen was in a magazine a few years back and the difference was only like 3 hp. I suspect it had to do with the grinds they were using.

I like a solid, since for my 435HP 427 to make any real power, it has to be up at 5000-7000. Solids simply behave better up there. And they don't require inordinate spring pressures to do so.

Used to have a link to an article about "Squishy lifters" but I can't find it.