solid roller valve lash readjustemnt interval

[dusterbd13]

ok, may be a dumb question. im running a solid roller in my small block mopar. ive got the indybrock heads with indy rockers and hardened pushrods.

it gets noisy every 1000-1500 miles, and i have to run all the valve lashes again.
is this normal? am i doing something wrong? is there something that i could add to my valvetrain to reduce the number of times i have to lash this thing?

also, is it possible to swap from the solid lifters to hydraulic lifters?

thanks
Michael

[Scott Parkhurst]

No, maybe, yes, and yes.

First, you shouldn't be losing your lash settings so quickly. I'd double-check to ensure you've got the right poly-locks in place. I check mine a couple times a year, and they're typically right where I left them. I do add a bit of lash for street driving, and tighten it up a bit before track time, but overall, it stays where I put it.

I might suggest a different mfr on those poly locks..

Yes, you can swap to hydraulic rollers too. Depending upon how radical your cam profile is, it might be a drop-in deal or you might have to go to a milder ramp. Check with your mfr of choice on the lifters to get the best advice. They know what their own stuff is capable of.

[wmhjr]

What's the cam profile? Do you have high lift with no stud girdles or shaft rockers? Wondering if it could be a deflection thing. I agree that you shouldn't need to adjust lash anywhere near that quickly. Solid rollers should stay adjusted longer than flat tappet solids - and even they shouldn't need adjustment anywhere near that kind of frequency.

[RollerCam540]

What noise are they making? Roller tapets generally last ~5K miles. If they're making noise shortly after an adjustment, you may need to replace the tapets (lifters).

[68sixspeed]

Having run 20k miles with a mech roller between the current 427 in my camaro and the prev 358, I tend to check them ~2500 miles (or before a track day) and typically find no change, say nothing more than .001 when I had the 358 which I checked hot, I'll give that much diff to a slight temp change. The 427 being an alum block is just to crazy to do hot, so it gets a cold set and with the jessel's it's never moved. (the lash would change by the time you get all around the motor, as it cools, the block moves that much more than steel)

Anyway, be sure you are consist. on the temperature and that the motor is fully at temp- I use to set one head, then button it up, fire the motor up again to keep it hot, then do the other. If you are seeing movement, it could be a sign of something bending (stud, rocker, pushrod), or if it gets real loose quick then the roller lifter could be going bad. Before the days of EDM'd pressure holes I lost a couple sets of rollers. Good luck-- Dan

[rrunner68]

Having run 20k miles with a mech roller between the current 427 in my camaro and the prev 358, I tend to check them ~2500 miles (or before a track day) and typically find no change, say nothing more than .001 when I had the 358 which I checked hot, I'll give that much diff to a slight temp change. The 427 being an alum block is just to crazy to do hot, so it gets a cold set and with the jessel's it's never moved. (the lash would change by the time you get all around the motor, as it cools, the block moves that much more than steel)

Anyway, be sure you are consist. on the temperature and that the motor is fully at temp- I use to set one head, then button it up, fire the motor up again to keep it hot, then do the other. If you are seeing movement, it could be a sign of something bending (stud, rocker, pushrod), or if it gets real loose quick then the roller lifter could be going bad. Before the days of EDM'd pressure holes I lost a couple sets of rollers. Good luck-- Dan

Thats how I set mine as well. Drive around, get everything toasty, do one side with a remote starter to bump it around, then button it up, drive around a bit, and do the other side. I also check mine by sound every month or so with a stethescope. Biggest thing to keep an eye on IMO is the bronze gear. I have a pretty mild cam all things considered for a full roller as well. Its the smallest BB Comp full roller.

[Lowend]

Something is off... there's no way you should be lashing that often .
What are you running for rockers/valvetrain?