Cams and lifters
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Topic author - I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
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Cams and lifters
Something I've been wondering about for some time. Is there any reason why you can't put roller lifters on a flat tappet cam?
1996 Safari SLX Hotair balloon transport vehicle
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- I get chills without my van.
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Re: Cams and lifters
The flat tappit cam has to aggressive lobe profile the roller lifter wouldjump off the lobe

1997 RWD Astro
1995 GMC Safari 4x4 lifted 5"
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Topic author - I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
- Posts: 2667
- Joined: Sat Dec 02, 2006 12:34 pm
- Location: Orlando, FL
Re: Cams and lifters
Thank you. I hadn't thought of that. After looking at the difference in lobe profiles it makes perfect sense.
1996 Safari SLX Hotair balloon transport vehicle
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I sleep in my van
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Re: Cams and lifters
If your in the engine that deep you might as well replace the cam too. That is what was done to my '93 350 when it was rebuilt. The block had all the right bolt holes and was made for it so why not? We went with a little more aggressive cam and rollers which added a nice little kick to the go pedal.
'93 Safari shorty, 350 swap
'05 Astro AWD, lifted, 6 liter, cammed, ported and programmed for fast.
'93 cargo, work in progress
'05 Astro AWD, lifted, 6 liter, cammed, ported and programmed for fast.
'93 cargo, work in progress
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Topic author - I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
- Posts: 2667
- Joined: Sat Dec 02, 2006 12:34 pm
- Location: Orlando, FL
Re: Cams and lifters
Did you put a roller cam in or a flat tappet cam with roller lifters?
1996 Safari SLX Hotair balloon transport vehicle
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- I finally get the smurf thing
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Re: Cams and lifters
The cam type MUST match the lifter type!!!
A flat-tappet lifter rides on a cam profile MUCH differently than the narrower point of a roller lifter.
The cam timings of a mis-match would not even be close!
Two different cam types with identical lift and duration: Contact points of lifters with identical cam shaft timing (lift timing is completely changed):
A flat-tappet lifter rides on a cam profile MUCH differently than the narrower point of a roller lifter.
The cam timings of a mis-match would not even be close!
Two different cam types with identical lift and duration: Contact points of lifters with identical cam shaft timing (lift timing is completely changed):
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2000 Chevy Astro LS AWD | 31" LT265/70R17 Tires | 8" LIFT | 10" TOTAL
92 Chevy Astro Shorty | V8-350
http://www.CruisinSouthFlorida.com

2000 Chevy Astro LS AWD | 31" LT265/70R17 Tires | 8" LIFT | 10" TOTAL
92 Chevy Astro Shorty | V8-350
http://www.CruisinSouthFlorida.com