Thread: Roller Cam vs Flat Tappet

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Will be getting a Chevy Performance 350 crate engine for a `32 Ford project. Need input from guys who have been there. Roller vs flat tappet cam? It looks like roller is better. Anyone ever had a failure with a flat tappet cam? New to process so any help would be appreciated.

Roller, roller, roller...

roller. i've done my last flat tappet engine.

Originally Posted by shine

roller. i've done my last flat tappet engine.

+1. Too much work and expense for an engine to risk it with today's oil, unless you want to buy expensive special blends. You could gamble on the "diesel" oils not getting reformulated to eliminate the zinc.

Besides, you can get better lift to duration ratios with a roller.

Welcome to CHR! On your question, ask yourself why every OEM only uses roller cams today. You shouldn't even think twice about the option of a flat tappet engine.

Originally Posted by hammy32

Will be getting a Chevy Performance 350 crate engine for a `32 Ford project. Need input from guys who have been there. Roller vs flat tappet cam? It looks like roller is better. Anyone ever had a failure with a flat tappet cam? New to process so any help would be appreciated.

http://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/w...ips_and_tricks

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Originally Posted by hammy32

Will be getting a Chevy Performance 350 crate engine for a `32 Ford project. Need input from guys who have been there. Roller vs flat tappet cam? It looks like roller is better. Anyone ever had a failure with a flat tappet cam? New to process so any help would be appreciated.

I better question might be, "Anyone lately used a flat tappet cam that DIDN'T fail?" Just kidding, but I couldn't resist.

Originally Posted by hammy32

Will be getting a Chevy Performance 350 crate engine for a `32 Ford project. Need input from guys who have been there. Roller vs flat tappet cam? It looks like roller is better. Anyone ever had a failure with a flat tappet cam? New to process so any help would be appreciated.

OK Hammy32, now that we've got that problem answered for you when are you going to get started on your "Build Thread"? Even if you're still in the planning stages you can go through your plan of what you want to end up with and the pieces/parts/process/path you intend to use to get there! Plan the work, then work the plan for a happy project.

Glad you're here, and hope you stick around and share your build with everyone.

I'm running a 350 Chevy, .30 over, Edlebrock Performer cam, intake and an Edlebrock 600cfm carb in my '36 Chevy. Probably 8-10K on it and seems to be going well.

Roller is better, but you can still use a flat tappet cam and lifters if you take a few precautions. A lot of the failures have been attributed to improper cam break-in and using a cam with aggressive lobes and springs with a lot of tension. My 383 was built in 2000 with a flat tappet cam, but had I known what they were going to do with oil, I would have opted for a roller but at the time I could not justify the added expense. I use Rotella T oil and add a little zinc additive just to be safe.

If I were to build another engine today, it would be a roller tappet cam engine. In the late sixties and early seventies, I spent a lot of time and money changing flat tappet cams in a dual purpose race/daily driver engine(s), and good oil was still available then. Today, with the government mandated restrictions on heavy metals and certain chemicals in oil and gasoline, conditions in an engine are not very conducive to longevity of a flat tappet cam, regardless of break in procedures. So, if you are starting from scratch, just g roller, and be done with it.

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