what is your experience with composite lifters ?

who has used them and what was your experience ?
good bad or indifferent

this is in a flat tappet cam big block
i know you need more spring pressure and valve bounce will kill them

Tex

I've used them for the last 7 years now without any problems. Used them when I've built my 528 pumpgas KB Hemi back then. At first in street / strip application running mid 10's while the last years in a race only app running around 9.0's. Still the same engine. Not a single issue.

Only think, price wise, I could have gone roller back then for around the same money.

I bought a set to use when I dyno test. That way I can swap camshafts without the need for a new set of lifters each time.
I think the main advantage of them in a different situation would be if you race in a class that limits you to a flat tappet. At least with the composite lifter you can run more spring pressure for the r.p.m. potential.
Keith

Where can you get them these days? Seemed there was one manufacturer and he is not easy to get hold of, order from? I haven't really researched it lately, so I could(probably am) be wrong.

I'm pretty sure that Don at FBO still carries them.

I have a used set that I'll sell. I used them for some dyno testing but I doubt that I'll need them again since I've now switched everything over to rollers.

Okay, cool. Hadn't heard much about them lately.

So, Andy, what roller grind do you use to replace the surprisingly good Mopar .528?

R.

Andy, I sent a email on the lifters.

I love them and use them in all my solid cam motors for one main reason, I never worry one bit, sorta like putting the dana in the car as well...

Ive one set with so much time on them, ive got to measure the bodies soon and maybe get them replaced, as the inserts are still as perfect as the day I got them.

Use them in the Bee. Going on 3 years now. Never a problem. Will use them again.

thanks guys for your input.
definately worth thinking about.
maybe i am am just a Luddite,but a flat tappet for daily driver/strip use seems to work.
even if just for reduced maintenance

Tex

I have sold and used many sets since Joe started making them,one customer had 3 of them push the composite out of the lifter body .060-.080,after he forgot to turn his fan and pump on.He said that the temp was over 280 before he noticed.Excessive heat would cause the lifter to spread as the epoxy expanded at high temp.This was on one of Joe's early sets that had been in the engine 3 years with 2 different cams.I have been using SM lifters since Smith tooled up.the Schubeck lifters in my 63 Max Wedge have been in 6 years-4 different engines with no problems.I have sold 4 sets of the SM this year 2 tool steel and 2 regular sets.Don't Drop them and Don't run to much lash and they should work great.
Richard
CrossRoads Racing