Hollow vs Solid Lifters

BILL WZOREK

BILL WZOREK

Well-known member
In a mild set up street motor ( of coarse FLATHEAD )
Can you tell the difference in performance ?
I know you want to keep the total weight mass down but can it be noticeable or is it just cruse in Bragging talk to have Hollow Lifters

?? JUST WONDERING ??

BILL W
 
I always wondered why if it didn't make a difference on a plain old street engine than why did Ford engineers go to the trouble of making hollow ones 80 years ago. Sure they saved material but it would sure have been easier and cheaper to use solid stock than make hollow ones.The same reason you have solid ones today,cheaper and easier.
 
Hello Bill,
The original build on my stroker motor was with solid adj lifters. Because
of an unfortunate set of circumstances the motor had to come out and the bearings
replaced. At this time I installed a NOS set of Johnson hollow lifters....not todays
repops. Before the motor wound to 4900 after 5200. Kind of like Zephrys on the
street....Bragadocio mainly.
Charlie ny
 
Charlie:

I find that interesting 300 rpm difference , Do you think any of the gain was do to the new berrings and other things done on the reassemble.
Not that I would insist on hollow so I also could get 300 more RPM's
I just like to think about things as I am sitting at the blast cabinet.

BILL W
 
When I started "Nostalgia Engines " in 1991 all I could get were the Ford 9N tractor lifters. Lota engines out there with em.
 
Bill,
I'm pretty sure the new bearings had something to do with the 300 RPMs.
I was really sure I'd see a big difference,oh well.
Charlie ny
 
Hmmm. Ounces of difference between solid and hollow. Whats a solid one weigh? 5-8 ounces. Hollow 2-4? Will that difference in weight have an affect against a 50 Lb spring? For the street I would be like Ron and use the 9N lifter. Yup, the blast cabinet can be the best place to think things out. I'd like to have one along with a bunch of other things.
 
When I rebuilt my engine in 1985 all I could find were the 9N lifters. Put them in and haven't touched them since.
 
We used the original hollow lifters on our first dragster engine,hilborn injection,methanol fuel,larger valves.
turned 5700 RPM for two seasons .
Not a problem
I like them,
Lawrie
 
Well, my dollar two 95 cent worth. The best lifters are the stock hollow listers. Not the early ones in the 30's, thay are cast iron hollow with long slots, they are very fragel and will break easy. Of course I know everybody doesn't have a butt grinder but thay are the lightest lifter. NOW, here is another little trick that everybody don't know. Most of the Ford lifters are 1.730 long. the Merc lifters and the EAB Ford lifters are 1.750 long. SO, with the performance cam that has a low heel you usually have to have a longer valve or an ajustable lifter, SO, the 1.750 lifter usuaaly will get you out of that trouble. And of course the Chevy valve is longer so with that combo I hardly ever use ajustable lifters. Thought for the day. Walt
 
Just for the fun of it . Sorry I do not know the brands .They are the same length

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2 3/4 oz for the hollow

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4 oz for the solid
 
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When you consider the fact that a street engine spends 90% of its life under 3000 rpm's this is a MOO Point or a cows opinion
 
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