Steve
Ceramic faced lifters are simply solid lifters with a ceramic face
epoxied or in some magical way attached. They can be flat or have a profile
of a roller. One very nice thing about ceramic lifters is you can use them
on any cam and don't need to buy new lifters for a new cam. The thing is
you can't use a roller profile on a cam that takes solid, flat lifters. So
a new cam profile would have to be designed.
This all means a billet cam. This is a good thing as we can control
all aspects of the cam...i.e.. no fuel lobe,(elec. pump), no distributor
gear, (crank fired trigger) larger carrier bearings for bigger lobes.
These bearings can be from a stock modern engine like a sm.block Chevy.
Yeah, this is going to be expensive. Start up cost is the biggest
part, with designing all the new profiles and what it will take to re-work
the block. First estimates on just for the billet cams is, 5 cams $5K. next
5 cams $2.5K. The block work is at the regular bench rate. The cost of the
ceramic lifters isn't that much. I don't have an est. but a friend just
bought a set of flat tops for under $500.
Now lets factor in the cost of the first engine. I was thinking of
sacrificing one of my $xxK National engines as a mule and compare the dyno
sheets after. Botom line...Who knows...Big Bucks.
Now everyone take a long cleansing deep breath...Breath in and
slowly breath out...remember to breath in again and repeat the process.
Coming up with an ideas is easy. Researching them and seeing if an
idea is possible is challenging. The cost is SHOCKING!!! Stepping up
to the plate and reproducing Corvair 1/2 axels was fun. Designing a
TR6/250/4 IRS suspension that is more in line with a Formula Ford, front &
rear, is a hand full, But is in the works. Flat top ceramic lifters are
real, but roller ceramic lifters on a billet cam is still a long way off.
But they can be done and the power increase on paper might make it all worth
while.
David W.
----- Original Message -----
From: <Gt6steve@aol.com>
To: <Elkhorn@core.com>
Cc: <fasttrs@mindspring.com>
Sent: Wednesday, July 24, 2002 9:17 AM
Subject: Was TR6 roller cam?
> Thanks Mike and David,
> We've desperately needed a step forward with these engines. I'm interested
> in what your trying to do. Add me to the list. What do you consider very
> expensive? I'm usually sitting down to read E-mail anyway so I can probably
> face it.
>
> I've never heard of the ceramic face lifters, will you elaborate?
> Thanx, Steve Smith
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