[cv67]

Vortecpro roughly would one like that cost with a SFT, AFR head, little compression? Somthing that may run up to 7k on occasion
My wimpy 383 is too small I think so switch from SR to SFT or id almost do it just so I never worry about roller failure. Damn they sure run good though!

 

[Thor454]

The majority of circle track classes, running at every local short track across this country, require flat tappet cams. That's thousands of F.T. cams a year. If there was a real issue, they would be the first to see it.

Mike, you convinced me that hydraulics (HFT) still have their place, which is why I had you spec. me a cam. at the 500 horsepower level. And I've had good fortune with my first HFT cammed 454, so I felt comfortable doing another motor with one.

Corey

 

[nad427]

I'm a new poster here, but this is a topic that interests me greatly.

I'm an oldschool SFT type that has a bunch of years as a hotrod hobbyist, and have run quite a few of them FT cams.

The concerns I have about rollers is,
1. The many moving parts that can fail. Lifters are such a hyper-critical engine part and need to stay together without coming apart and causing catastrophic engine failure.
2. The spring pressures needed to keep everything in it's place. This to me is another danger as you sure don't want a broken spring to drop a valve. Plus, the wear and tear high pressures cause on the valve seats, rockers, keepers, on and on.

I'm a street type guy now, and I know brows will furrow but I still really like the oldschool grinds with the longer ramps, longer dur, etc. On the street you really don't want to have to repetitively tear down motors and spend big bucks on new parts because of possible valve train failure in a HP motor. Them older grinds can still produce respectable power while being far easier on the v-train than a tight ramp and needed heavy springs, be it FT OR roller.

Back in my flatbottom boat days I ran quite a few new, and old grinds and all I can say is that the old grind motors lasted longer, with fewer valve train problems. In one I even ran an NOS 3994094 Can Am cam, and that one was my favorite.

Given a choice I'd take just about any SFT over a SR for street duty. If I was competitively racing it'd be a different story...maybe.

 

[Aaron]

I'm a new poster here, but this is a topic that interests me greatly.

I'm an oldschool SFT type that has a bunch of years as a hotrod hobbyist, and have run quite a few of them FT cams.

The concerns I have about rollers is,
1. The many moving parts that can fail. Lifters are such a hyper-critical engine part and need to stay together without coming apart and causing catastrophic engine failure.
2. The spring pressures needed to keep everything in it's place. This to me is another danger as you sure don't want a broken spring to drop a valve. Plus, the wear and tear high pressures cause on the valve seats, rockers, keepers, on and on.

I'm a street type guy now, and I know brows will furrow but I still really like the oldschool grinds with the longer ramps, longer dur, etc. On the street you really don't want to have to repetitively tear down motors and spend big bucks on new parts because of possible valve train failure in a HP motor. Them older grinds can still produce respectable power while being far easier on the v-train than a tight ramp and needed heavy springs, be it FT OR roller.

Back in my flatbottom boat days I ran quite a few new, and old grinds and all I can say is that the old grind motors lasted longer, with fewer valve train problems. In one I even ran an NOS 3994094 Can Am cam, and that one was my favorite.

Given a choice I'd take just about any SFT over a SR for street duty. If I was competitively racing it'd be a different story...maybe.

Curious as to what you run for oil? Do you spend a little more on specialty oil that has the zinc level needed?

I tend to agree about the spring pressures, but would think that a mild hydralic roller would not go against what your saying and you might have to spend less on oil. What would you say to that?

Alot of older guys here prefer the flat tappet designs even the newer flat tappet design as well. Harold Brookshire has a huge following on here. Ultradyne still gets alot of attention. I think people dont realize that flat tappet designs from the 60's and 70's arent the flat tappet designs of today. Some are and some arent.

No doubt the older designs still work. Just have to do maintance and search for the right oil and spend.

 

[CamKing]

Back in my flatbottom boat days .

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=814453795279737&l=b7de6da92b

I'm just getting into my flatbottom boat days.

 

[Aaron]

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=814453795279737&l=b7de6da92b

I'm just getting into my flatbottom boat days.

What is that?

 

[CamKing]

What is that?

1963 Buck Smith Flatbottom(built by Gene Keene).
Mahogany Deck by Mel Ruiz.
It's got a 420hp SBC-350, thru a Casale V-Drive.

My father was one of the winningest circle boat racers of all time. He raced SK , SS, and K boats in the 50's and 60's.

This is the type of boat I grew up with, so when I got to the age when most guys buy a corvette, I bought this.

 

[Aaron]

1963 Buck Smith Flatbottom(built by Gene Keene).
Mahogany Deck by Mel Ruiz.
It's got a 420hp SBC-350, thru a Casale V-Drive.

My father was one of the winningest circle boat racers of all time. He raced SK , SS, and K boats in the 50's and 60's.

This is the type of boat I grew up with, so when I got to the age when most guys buy a corvette, I bought this.

Thats cool.

There was a guy whos daughter played softball for my Dad that use to something like that.

 

[Thor454]

1963 Buck Smith Flatbottom(built by Gene Keene).
Mahogany Deck by Mel Ruiz.
It's got a 420hp SBC-350, thru a Casale V-Drive.

My father was one of the winningest circle boat racers of all time. He raced SK , SS, and K boats in the 50's and 60's.

This is the type of boat I grew up with, so when I got to the age when most guys buy a corvette, I bought this.

I agree with Aaron, that is a neat bit of history, thanks!

Corey

 

[VORTECPRO]

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=814453795279737&l=b7de6da92b

I'm just getting into my flatbottom boat days.

Mike.....is that boat you and big Joe used to cruise the lakes in So Cal together?

 

[nad427]

Curious as to what you run for oil? Do you spend a little more on specialty oil that has the zinc level needed?

I tend to agree about the spring pressures, but would think that a mild hydralic roller would not go against what your saying and you might have to spend less on oil. What would you say to that?

Alot of older guys here prefer the flat tappet designs even the newer flat tappet design as well. Harold Brookshire has a huge following on here. Ultradyne still gets alot of attention. I think people dont realize that flat tappet designs from the 60's and 70's arent the flat tappet designs of today. Some are and some arent.

No doubt the older designs still work. Just have to do maintance and search for the right oil and spend.

I just run regular old Valvoline, with a small bottle of that "overblown" ZDDP poured in. I should note though that the motor type I run now are in a car that is driven for fun and not everyday to and from work. I can say however that I have an old 88 Chevy 2wd pickup with a pee-uky 305 that has a FT cam, and it has over 300,000 miles on it, still going, and I add nothing to it's oil.

It'd take a while to make oil costs add up to what a Roller cam and all it's expensive needed add-ons would cost.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=814453795279737&l=b7de6da92b

I'm just getting into my flatbottom boat days.

One of mine. And for some reason I can't get your link to come up. Wish I could see it.

 

[Aaron]

I just run regular old Valvoline, with a small bottle of that "overblown" ZDDP poured in. I should note though that the motor type I run now are in a car that is driven for fun and not everyday to and from work. I can say however that I have an old 88 Chevy 2wd pickup with a pee-uky 305 that has a FT cam, and it has over 300,000 miles on it, still going, and I add nothing to it's oil.

It'd take a while to make oil costs add up to what a Roller cam and all it's expensive needed add-ons would cost.



One of mine. And for some reason I can't get your link to come up. Wish I could see it.

Thats interesting.

Maybe you should chat with SWHEATON. Talk and read what he has done with oil and stuff. Interesting stuff too. My concern is always invested in something and having it fail because what I was investing in was not strong enough for the job that I was investing in it to do.

Bob is the oil guy website is a good place to read too.

 

[CamKing]

Mike.....is that boat you and big Joe used to cruise the lakes in So Cal together?

Funny

I spent the first 38 years of my life, and the first 20 years of being in the cam business, about 30 miles from Joe's shop. With my dad running the Champion Spark Plug dyno facility in Long Beach for decades, I knew almost everyone in the SoCal racing business. I never heard of "Big Joe", until I got on the internet.

 

[CamKing]

One of mine. And for some reason I can't get your link to come up. Wish I could see it.

 

[VORTECPRO]

Funny

I spent the first 38 years of my life, and the first 20 years of being in the cam business, about 30 miles from Joe's shop. With my dad running the Champion Spark Plug dyno facility in Long Beach for decades, I knew almost everyone in the SoCal racing business. I never heard of "Big Joe", until I got on the internet.

Come on Cam King, I knew who Big Joe was in the 3th grade:yes: You guys had a nice setup over there at Champion.