Thread: hydraulic vs solid

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i'm thinking of putting a solid flat cam in my 406sbc, but i just had a few questions about solid cams, is a solid camshaft worth anymore power over a hydrualic flat ? i know the hydraulics are getting very good and i had lot of success with them,but i'm hearing that solids are just better for power, if solids are better how come?. i don't care about adjusting lash, but how often do you have adjust the lash for street/strip engine? if anyone has experiences with solid cams, much help would be appreciated.

Originally Posted by vortec king

i'm thinking putting a solid flat cam in my 406, but i just had a few questions, is a solid camshaft worth anymore power over a hydrualic flat ? i know the hydraulics are getting very good and i had lot of success with them,but i'm hearing that solids are just better for power, if solids are better how come?. i don't care about adjusting lash, but how often do you have adjust the lash for street/strip engine? if anyone has experiences with solid cams, much help would be appreciated

Originally Posted by vortec king

i'm thinking of putting a solid flat cam in my 406sbc, but i just had a few questions about solid cams, is a solid camshaft worth anymore power over a hydrualic flat ? i know the hydraulics are getting very good and i had lot of success with them,but i'm hearing that solids are just better for power, if solids are better how come?. i don't care about adjusting lash, but how often do you have adjust the lash for street/strip engine? if anyone has experiences with solid cams, much help would be appreciated.

Buy running the mech. cam you are able to run more rpm's which in turn lets you look at bigger cams.
I.M.O.,I would look at a mech. when ever you think you will turn more than 6,500.

yeah mechs are great for over 6500 but really just a pain in the bum if its just a street car..... you ussually can get away with adjusting valves about every 10-15k.... but it can depend on your build.... i've had ones i had to adjust after every run down the strip, but i was dumping the clutch at about 6k and shifting it at about 10k

Originally Posted by thesals

yeah mechs are great for over 6500 but really just a pain in the bum if its just a street car..... you ussually can get away with adjusting valves about every 10-15k.... but it can depend on your build.... i've had ones i had to adjust after every run down the strip, but i was dumping the clutch at about 6k and shifting it at about 10k

Damn,that sounds like one hell of a ride.Sounds fun!

yeah i was runnin 6.7s on the 8th.... making all the honda boys look horrible ... and killed my bosses 68 camaro that he was boasting about how fast it was for about 6 months.... finally met him on the track and he was in the low 8s ... must suck for a chevy guy to be blown away by a ford

I am parts gathering for my next SBC, I also am thinking of running a solid lifter cam, but I wasnt planning on spinning past 6500. I was opting towards the solid for a more aggressive ramp profile on the cam, I was under the impression I would have more torque over a broader range than I would with a big hydraulic. Hydraulic cams have come a long way mind you, looking forward for some more expert opinions, I will be running forged domed pistons and either afr or pro race aluminum heads with 64cc chambers there abouts. Havent ordered them yet.

I run a DZ 302 68 SBC in sand drag jeep.Drop the hammer at 9800, shift 3rd to 4th at 9500. Runs 5 seconds in 300feet.Solid Cam all the way Makes mucho HP above 3800 under 3800 EEEH.A street car sounds great with solids if you have quiet mufflers.People always ask whats the klicking going on under the hood LOL.Have Fun

Originally Posted by Figmo

I run a DZ 302 68 SBC in sand drag jeep.Drop the hammer at 9800, shift 3rd to 4th at 9500. Runs 5 seconds in 300feet.Solid Cam all the way Makes mucho HP above 3800 under 3800 EEEH.A street car sounds great with solids if you have quiet mufflers.People always ask whats the klicking going on under the hood LOL.Have Fun

A mech. at 9,800 rpm's.
WOW!!!!
We have problems at 8,000 in our circle track car.
What is it with people and telling stories about rpm's????

maybe some people just want their engines to last longer than others

Got a picture of that tach launching at that RPM??? Never seen one run that high with solids this side of NASCAR...... Must be one heck of a cam to still make power way up there!!!!!! Haven't even seen a lot of roller cams running that many revs.........

Mine did that too ,....untill I switched the tach from 4cyl to 8 cyl on the back of the tach.....

Go with the solid, you wont regret it. I have run solids on the street for the past eight years. I adjust mine each spring before the cruzin season, and that's it for the year. They're not just for high rpms either...that's where they shine, but they will give you more torque down low as well, due to their ramp profiles, and the fact that the lifters are 'right there' all the time. I have run lots of flat tappet solids, and currently, and for the last few years, a solid roller. Contrary to what you will hear, or have heard, about solid rollers on the street, mine current lifters have been no less than perfect for 3 seasons now. And I do a lot of driving during the nice months, including a lot of idling. Go for it! Nothin like the sound of a solid cam. John

Originally Posted by shawnlee28

Mine did that too ,....untill I switched the tach from 4cyl to 8 cyl on the back of the tach.....

Ya,I had an old Mallory tach. that I could impress my buddies with back in 1984.

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

Got a picture of that tach launching at that RPM??? Never seen one run that high with solids this side of NASCAR...... Must be one heck of a cam to still make power way up there!!!!!! Haven't even seen a lot of roller cams running that many revs.........

Dave,you know there is a reason why you have not seen that and I have not seen that.
It is because we have all that bad air here in the Midwest.