Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 (Tek) 9/28/84 based on 9/17/84; site tekig1.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!bellcore!decvax!tektronix!tekig1!rickb
From: rickb@tekig1.UUCP (Rick Bensene)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: Camless valve operation
Message-ID: <1816@tekig1.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 11-Jan-85 14:14:01 EST
Article-I.D.: tekig1.1816
Posted: Fri Jan 11 14:14:01 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 13-Jan-85 08:12:08 EST
References: <6848@watdaisy.UUCP> <821@ariel.UUCP> <2453@tekig.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR
Lines: 59

> 
> 
> 	Recently I've seen an advertisement for a slightly
> modified hydraulic lifter that enables the use of a
> higher performance camshaft and still retain some decent
> low end manners.  These lifters had a small groove machined down
> the side of the inner sleeve.  Its purpose was to keep the
> lifter from pumping up fully until a higher rpm.  This keeps the 
> overall valve lift and duration down a little until there
> is sufficient rpm to keep the lifter full and at maximum lift.
> 
> Claims include smoother low end running while maintaining high
> end performance of "hot" cams.  Anyone ever try any of these??
> I think a set was $89.
> 
> 
> tektronix!tekig!david

The lifters mentioned in he above article are available from
Rhoads.  Rhoads has been manufacturing these lifters for quite
a few years, and many hot rodders have found them to the best
thing since Nitrous Oxide!  The Rhoads lifters take a radical
cam grind, and transform it into an economical, smooth running,
high-bottom end torque grind at low RPM ranges.  However, once
the RPM's climb, the lifters begin to pump up, and the radical
grind of the camshaft becomes apparent in increased top end
power.  A friend had a 1969 Camaro with a heavily modified
LS-6 454.  The cam had a very wild grind.  It would not idle
at anything below around 2000 RPM, and even then, the "idle"
would shake the car.  This made the car very difficult for
street driving (mind you, this was NOT a racecar).  After
getting tired of either turning over the tires at every
light to get away because of the high idle, or having to
literally slip the clutch to death to make a "smooth" start,
he decided to try a set of Rhoads lifters.  I believe the
set cost him around $90 or so.  The difference was very
impressive.  The engine would idle fairly smoothly at around
1100 RPM.  There was still a little lope, and the engine still
sounded real healthy, but it's low-end manners were drastically
improved.  Bottom-end torque increased dramatically,
and the top end suffered little, if at all.
Rhoads lifters are *hydraulic* lifters... if your cam is ground
for solid lifters, it would probably not work too well
if you put Rhoads lifters in in place of the solids.  If you've
got a hot hydraulic grind cam, Rhoads lifters are the way to
go. 
If you're looking for Rhoads lifters, I believe that they
are sold DIRECT from Rhoads.  You can find ads for them in
the back of any good hot-rod type magazine, such as HOT ROD,
CAR CRAFT, SUPER CHEVY, or the like.

Rick Bensene
..tektronix!tekig1!rickb
Phone: Weekdays:  (503) 627-3559
       BBS (24 hours): (503) 254-0458
USnail: Rick Bensene/Tektronix, Inc./Mail Stop 39-170/P.O. Box
        500/Beaverton, Oregon/97077

Baseball, Hot-Dogs, Apple Pie, and CHEVROLET!