Hey guys. I'm currently building a new engine. I'm going with a hydraulic roller cam. I need lifters that are .300 longer than the standard OEM lifter. It appears that all these longer lifters have link bars on them. I was kind of planning on re-using the spider tray and retainers. If I understand correctly, if I use lifters with the link bars, there is no need for the spider tray and retainers correct? Does anyone know of any lifters that are longer without the link bars?

 

Why?

Most of us just use longer push rods in that situation.

Correct.

Several of the cam mfrs supply link-bar lifters designed to go in roller blocks with their taller bores.

 

400 block. Along with a small base circle camshaft. Link bars if used will hit on a standard length lifter.


Thanks bud.

 

I confused....

Why cant you get standard roller lifters and use the spider/retainers and get .300 longer pushrods? No link bar to hit anything then.

 

Because the 400 block isnt setup for that. Unless its a certain aftermarket block.

 

True but this is what I was going off of.

 

A small base circle cam is only .100" smaller diameter; therefore only .050" smaller radius which is what affects the lifter height.

The main thing that happens with that, is the oil groove falling too low. Sm BC lifters have it moved up on the body a few .001"s. The link bars don't hit. At least, never have in any 400 I've worked with.

Here's the difference between std and "small base circle" lifters. These are some solids I have just sort of laying around waiting for their next opportunity.



Which incidentally, don't hit the top of the bores...

You're right (duh) that the spider and all that stuff is not applicable to the block at hand. At least, me personally, no way in Gehennah I'm drilling into the place that you'd have to drill into, to install that. I've seen other people that would but I'm too chicken.

 

It's a dart shp block. It has tapped holes for the spider tray. I was told to use .300 taller lifters with a linkage bar. Or .300 taller lifters with the spider tray and retainers. I cannot find a .300 taller hydraulic lifter that does not have a linkage bar on it. I appreciate all the information guys. I'll do some more research when I get home.

 

I would slide the cam in the block and try a factory lifter. My bet is you will be ok.
Check the oil groove to make sure its not falling out of the bottom of the block.
Maybe thats what they mean, a raised .300 oil groove on the lifter body?

 

This is kind of why I asked "why" up there...

I would suggest then, call Dart and ask what lifters they recommend. Surely they know of something that will work.

 

Dbl post.

 

I did. That's why I said I needed .300 longer. They said you can use the linkage bar lifters. Or non linkage bar with the spider tray. But as I stated above, I can't seem to find any that are .300 longer without the linkage bars. Not a big deal. I'll just order the ones with the linkage bars. Just want to make sure before I checkout my $1900 summit cart.

Thanks again for the info guys.

 

You can use ls7 lifters and factory spider with small base cams in the shp just fine. I had that in my car. I had them in with both my small base cams to check travel and it was fine. But still check the oil groove travel on yours. My cams may not have been that small base circle as i didnt need it to clear the regular 3.75 stroke and 6" rods. You may need to worry about it with your large stroke.

However if you are building that serious engine combo with an aggressive cam, you may want to look into Morel link bar lifters. Best lifter out there. They will handle higher spring pressures required for big lobe cams. Afr heads tho have light valves which helps so depending on cam lobe ls7's should be ok. I turned them 7k rpm with a .613" cam just fine so they can work but i didnt want to chance them with the new .640" cam. Morels are expensive but work. However install them with heads off motor! They dont fit with heads bolted down. They are tall.

 

Morel it is. Building this motor right.

 

Contact Chris Straub at Straub Technologies

Good thing about Morels is that from roller to pushrod cup, that height is about same as LS7 lifter, so you can measure pushrods using a LS7 lifter. I have a few extra LS7 lifters that I took the plunger/spring out and filled with small nuts/washers to make it solid so I can do my pushrod checks. Then sub'd the Morel's in.