Cam/Lifter uh-oh Part II

[GOSFAST]

Originally Posted by Kahuna

Where do you guys get that the cylinder friction is of no value when working to reduce friction? HUH?
All you have to do is compare a std set of rings to the newer stuff. ANY change is beneficial!!
And, good luck with a vacuum pump. Sheesh

Thank you "Kahuna", this is simply an excellent statement, pretty much sums up a good portion of what "chasing HP" is all about!

If there are any doubters I would say "you'd need to feel the difference between the amount of effort required to make 1 turn of a short block with (8) 3 or 4-ring pistons having cast rings installed and one using (8) pistons having a 1.5, 1.5, 3.0, "moly-metric" ring pack"? It's really a "night & day" issue!

I say there's more than a 20 HP gain directly related to these super-light-weight/lower-tension ring packs, but I'll leave it at 20 for now!

I know it isn't relevant here to the Flatheads, but for instance, when we change from a flat-tappet platform (hydraulic or solid lifter) over to a hyd-roller on a SBC or BBC we gain 30+ HP, this we definitely HAVE confirmed on our dyno testing. It also explains why a very high percentage of mfrs went over to the OEM roller platform. Gas mileage (among other things) played a huge part in their decision.

Thanks, Gary in N.Y.

P.S. I would pass on installing on any vacuum pumps on these units however, but do believe the pump would be more of a "positive" for add'l HP than a "negative". We run our G.M. race builds around 12" vacuum when the pump is in the program!