Solid or Hydraulic Roller for my 424ci Windsor?

[Justin Upchurch]

I have placed the order with my engine builder for my motor, but I am still undecided on the cam. I would really like to go with the solid roller so that I can spin the motor to 7500. But before I make the call I would like to get some feedback from those of you running solid rollers. Specifically, I would like to know the reliability of the lifters and how long the lifters have lasted in your car. I have been told that the new lifters, with better oiling, can go 15 - 20k miles before sending the lifters back in for a rebuild.
I plan to put 5k miles a year on my car and I am aware that I will need to adjust the lifters evey 1k miles.
Please let me know your thoughts.

Justin

[GeorgiaSnake]

Others may disagree but I'm not sure I would plan on spinning the motor to 7500 on a regular basis unless you are spending big $ on the bottom end. My motor starts pulling hard around 2200 and pulls really hard up to about 6000 (I have a 6500 chip in it) with a non-roller cam.

Randy

Unique 289 FIA #2899420
Southern Automotive 396
Team III 16's
Brilliant Silver

[Brent]

Can you give the specs on the motor so we can offer an opinion?



Brent
427 SC Chassis #4279401
Candy Apple Red/White
402 FE/Toploader/3.54

[Justin Upchurch]

This is an all forged bottom end good to 1100hp and 8500rpm. The weakest link on this motor is the block, as they can only handle 850 - 900 hp with a girdle, and I should be two to three hundred horsepower under the limit.

Justin

[Justin Upchurch]

The motor is using a 4130 forged Scat crank, forged H-beam rods, forged alum JE pistons (11:1 static), Victor Jr. heads with 2.08/1.60 valves (may change to the TFS R hi-port heads), super vic jr. intake, and BG 850 annular carb.
If I do go with the solid roller cam I plan on using a street roller because the spring pressures are in the 180 range. The cam I am looking at is 254/260 duration 621/627 lift 110 degree lobe seperation.

Justin

[Brent]

Sounds like a nice motor. Is this for street use? If so the carb is WAY too big in my opinion. With a nice set of cylinder heads the air speed should be high enough to run a smaller carb. You might want a 850 on a 420" motor if you were going to drag race. Leave at 6500 and shift at 7500 with the motor never seeing rpms under 6000. If you plan to race the twisties that big carb will really suck. Your engine builder probably wants a big carb so it looks good on the dyno. And we all know dynos don't mean $hit.

With 260 dur/630 lift I would lean toward the solid roller.







Brent
427 SC Chassis #4279401
Candy Apple Red/White
402 FE/Toploader/3.54

[Justin Upchurch]

Iplan to auto cross the car once a month and go to the drag strip once every 1-2 months.
Brent, Are you running a solid roller in your car? And what I really want to know if it is ok to run a solid roller in a street car?

Justin

[GeorgiaSnake]

Justin sounds like a sweet package. Check out these heads

http://www.jonkaaseracingengines.com/headsRJD/KaaseJegsSBF.htm

I think they would support what you are doing.

Randy



Unique 289 FIA #2899420
Southern Automotive 396
Team III 16's
Brilliant Silver

[Brent]

I am running a solid flat tappet
260 @ .050
.651 lift
750 Mighty Demon

Roller cams make power due to the ability to make the ramp steep and agressive. Anything "agressive" in the valvetrain will be hard on parts. You mentioned running a milder street spring. That is OK unless you plan to turn it hard. I used to run K-motion 1000H in my bracket motor. They are a silicon spring and they ae very forgiving unlike a vasco style. Your builder should have some good sugestions.

have fun!


Brent
427 SC Chassis #4279401
Candy Apple Red/White
402 FE/Toploader/3.54

[eliminator]

Wow! sounds like a NASCAR engine;).

Rick
#4279405

[Justin Upchurch]

So,
Do you guys think I will be OK running a solid roller on the street?
Brent,
Can I give you a call regarding the carb?
Randy,
I took a hard look at these heads, but I couldn't find anyone that had used them, not even in the Mustang world. Several of the guys had them on order, but t was going to be a while befor you could get a set. Also, you have to run the Jeg's valve cover with these. And if you noticed Kaase did not use his own heads in the Engine Masters challenge, he used the CHI. But the heads may not have been legal for the challenge just like the Blue Thunder heads which are among the best heads available.

Justin

[Brent]

Anytime ;)
800-365-9220



Brent
427 SC Chassis #4279401
Candy Apple Red/White
402 FE/Toploader/3.54

[Naumoff]

Justin,
I suggest you build two cars. One for the street and one for the track.;)

That's what I would do.:D

Tony

Unique 427 #4279480 427s/o Nascar toploader 3.31 Jag IRS

[Justin Upchurch]

Tony,
I had a Mustang for drag racing and a shifter kart for road racing. The kart was by far the most fun of the two, but got to be a hassle to run. I have always loved Cobras since I was a little kid, and I figured this is the best way to have a car that is fast and still handles well. And the best thing about it is that I don't have to load it into a trailor and put a fire suit on to go enjoy it for 30 min.
But, it is hard to find that fine line between fun to drive on the street and still run good on a track day. I just have to keep reminding myself that most of the time the car will be on the street.
Decisions decisions.

Justin

[Naumoff]

Justin,
your right, there is a fine line.
You really have to consider, and I think you know this, is the more horsepower the less reliable it is on the street.
Maybe you should turbo or super charge it w/ EFI and a FAST fuel management system, That way you can easily adjust your fuel set up from motocross to dragstrip and still get away with a milder cam.
Just a thought.
Tony

Unique 427 #4279480 427s/o Nascar toploader 3.31 Jag IRS

[sllib]

Justin;
FWIW, I'm building a similar motor to yours and, when I called BG for a carb. recommendation they suggested either a Race Demon 750 or a Mighty Demon 825. Just to be sure I called again later on and another guy (their Ford guy) said the same thing.
Bill Stradtner

[Justin Upchurch]

Tony,
My origianl plan was to go with a turbo or blower motor. But I decided after seiing a Factory Five car that all of the plumbing under the hood for the intercooler looked really out of place.
Bill,
Brent gave me Don Gould's contact info and he is going to set up a 750 demon with road race floats for me. Bill what type of cam are you going with?

Justin

[sllib]

Justin;
I went with a Comp solid roller cam with spec's very similar to the one you're considering. I'm using AFR 205 heads, Vic Jr. intake, 1 3/4" headers and will probably use a Mighty Demon 825. All this is piled into a Dart block with the 4.125" bore and mild stroke to give me a little over 427 ci. Everything is forged and roller. My machine shop guy says the motor will make 600+ hp when it's done, which will be a while since I'm on the road constantly. Believe it or not, my original plan was to build a warmed over 302 to get it on the road. Oh, well.
Bill Stradtner

427W Dart "Replica Ford Engine

[ralphscott]

Just personal observation I had a 383 in 1968 put an Carter AFB 850 Found out quickly that it ran a whole lot better on a 700 CFM. Currently I am running a 780 on a 428+ Too much carb can cause you to lose performance.

Ralph