Its late, im pissed, I posted in the roller vs FT post ive went cheap on a couple solids recently and used comps heavy edms and was not impressed at the overall quality.

I have one set in a motor now with just a fireup to make sure all seems ok and was thinking as I was getting ready to test fit another set and how I felt the overall quality sucked.

So I started to take them apart to clean, the last set I soaked, (mistake) as after cleaning with carb cleaner and 110psi I was looking at the lifter bodies and this is what I found.

The one on the left side is oval and at an angle but the hole size seemed ok with other edm-s ive used, then in the center is Mr Big, Ive got to measure it but its at least 1/3 larger then the oval slotted one.

Now the kicker and why im going to pull the other build back down is after soaking with carb cleaner for 1/2 hour and blowing 110psi of air in the body and trying to clear the hole I cant get carb cleaner to weep through it, I cant get a needle to start to go in....3 out of the 16 will not oil the lobe as delivered.

Ive a hp spring in a hv pump, but it wont do dick with 3 of these lifters, now I can make these all equal, or should I ship them back to comp so they can look them over and decide how many other sets they have sold like these and maybe this is a reason some comp edm users are eating lobes.

The past few years ive got junk from comp 1/2 the time, I look for 20 year old stock and it seems ive got to go back to that line of thought.

If it wasnt for the pushrod length difference id go back to the full body solids like ive used to use long ago and never had a problem.

I also feel if one was running alot of spring pressure with a high lift solid there would be cup issues sooner or later

I gave up on Comp lifters 15yrs ago. I don't know who supplies them but I won't take the chance. Hope you get it straightened out.

The angry side of me says toss them into the next county, common sense says return them to comp along with the matched pushrods it took them 3 times to get me a good set of them and use a different product line.

Now im really stuck on the SM solids and Smith Bros pushrods, I thought I could use comps edms and thick walled off the shelf pushrods, but it seems I was wrong.

i'd contact comp and give them a WTF. i may be looking into another solid setup and to feel safe will probably go EDM. i've never had a cam/lifter failure and am really feeling i'm due. for solids you can really go to the nth degree if you want with coated lightweight lifters but they get real expensive. i was poking around recently and there was one company that had some very expensive solids. i thought it was trend but whoever it was had even higher end stuff.

for myself i'm thinking about howards or ferrea tool steel if i do go solid

OK it was trend that had the pricey solids but their website doesn't show the ones i was looking at on a PDF. i've used a lot of comp stuff in the past without issue but have really begun to wonder about quality/quality control web page

Ive 4 motors here with the SM Beck Style lifters, worth every cent...

Average weight 73 grams, comps 821s are 88 grams, the comp edms are pig heavy at 101 grams.

These SM units are the way to go if your really into solids imo....

ferrea might be good web page

regardless of vendor i'm thinking tool steel might be the ticket

Ive heard good things on the tool steel lifters, Trend and even SM has there version at a hair less then the puck style.

As far as comp and quality control, the first set they didnt inspect as they were returns with two having the vise grip marks on them and the z pattern half way down where they got in a bind.

Second set was different lengths, third set and my invoice even had it hand written, inspect prior to ship, but shouldnt they do that anyway?

Im not bashing comp, I love there older products and use them in places many wouldnt and they work and live, these new parts just ...

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OK it was trend that had the pricey solids but their website doesn't show the ones i was looking at on a PDF. i've used a lot of comp stuff in the past without issue but have really begun to wonder about quality/quality control web page

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Thanks for posting that link, them are some lightweight lifters there.

Well I could take a set of my SM units and use them and try the ferreas im my main thrasher. And ive 4 hard years on the same set of valves, might be a good package to consider.

I do like the fact the SM units are a solid body unit, yes the puck is pressed in but.....

One of the last sets I got from Joe S before he went out the door were door stoppers, 2 split lifter bodies from the box from pressing the puck in wrong, well wrong size it would seem.

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ferrea might be good web page

regardless of vendor i'm thinking tool steel might be the ticket

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Comp used trend for pushrods for some years but I'm not sure that's still the case,the last item I purchased something from them that didn't go back was a set of pushrods. I grew up a few miles from Comp and in the early days I used alot of there products,but that changed years ago. Ferrea,Trend and others have some nice but pricey lifters. I generally use the smaller companys,Bullet,Lunati,Jones Cams,etc for lifters.

not familiar with the SM but i'm guessing these are the composites like schubeck?

i kinda like solids but the horror stories are scary. these days even with mild grinds i would be inclined to use tool steel EDMs. as for the composites i would tend to think they would be reserved for classes that require a solid. i have no experience with them but i guess like any other lifter if you let it flop around something breaks.

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I generally use the smaller companys,Bullet,Lunati,Jones Cams,etc for lifters.

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which begs the question who is actually making them. i'm sure there's only a handful of manufactures then they are relabeled

Its my understanding, when Joe S let things goto pot, one of his?? took over the setup and all has been great, esp in the quality dept.

I know they were short material as the puck material is used in the military for????

With the right parts, not crazy high end a solid can live with almost zero upkeep.

I use nothing extreme, old, old comp pro magnums, comp "light" roller springs (small dia, high spring rate), comp lighweight reatiners and even good old comp lash caps, smith bros .116 walled pushrods, they said was overkill but I wanted the strongest 5/16 units I could get....spin this puppy to 7200-7600 everytime I drive it.

It is very disappointing to hear about all the lack of quality control at many companies. I have seen Comp Cams issues too.

I have been happy with my Howards EDM oiling flat tappets. Yes they are heavy at almost 101 grams, but they have worked great at 440 lbs open pressure, heavy valves (2.25" intake), 1.6 rocker ratio, etc. I think they are around $189/set.

Spending $700-$800 on fancy flat tappets is costly unless the class requires them. Otherwise either go roller cam or a quality EDM lifter.

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If it wasnt for the pushrod length difference id go back to the full body solids like ive used to use long ago and never had a problem.

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What length pushrod do you need? I have some 8.79" OAL, 8.64" effective length for sale in the "Race Parts" section. And you can always have long ones shortened at low cost, but you can't make them longer. <SmithBros-Invoice>

I'm running Howards EDM lifters in my small block. I primed the engine on the stand with the intake off so I could watch them oil. No complaints so far. 165# seat, 400# open I believe.

I use Crower lifters and they are the best. I run Pac beehive springs with 135#s on the seat. Same cam and lifters going on 6 years.

I never jumped on the Comp. wagon like so many have but all companies have issues from time to time and I`ve used Isky for years and am pretty pleased over all. Good luck...........

I have had a couple sets of Comp's edm lifters and never had an issue,but the last several solid lifters I have used have been regular flat tappets. I have been running several different agressive grinds with high spring pressures and regular flat tappets with no issues.
I do have an original set of Schubeck lifters that I use for cam testing on the dyno so I don't need to break in lifters each time.
The last flat tappet grind I had in my 440 mule had Comp's MM lobes and regular flat tappets. At least 150 dyno pulls later it looks as good as you could ask. Good oil and the right spring pressures is all it takes.
Keith

I have a complete set of Schubeck coated lifters I pulled out of my engine this spring to swap over to a hydraulic roller. They are approximately 7 years old and still look brand new. I quit racing this particular car and turned it into a street car, so switched it over for that reason. Ran great with the flat tappet. If anyone wants these lifters, pm me and I will send pics and you can make me an offer.