Valvetrain Vigilantes? Camshaft vs. Roller Rockers Test
How much power are roller rockers worth? How do rockers compare to a cam swap? Can I get the same power gains with rockers and not have to tear apart […]
Video: What Are Hydraulic Roller Lifters & How Do They Work?
Hydraulic roller lifters are now commonplace, even in some high performance engine builds. But while they handle the same job as their mechanical roller and flat tappet friends, hydraulic roller […]
Ask Away! with Jeff Smith: Proper Rocker Arm Torque & Tightening
I just discovered a rocker arm on my small block that loosened up and popped off the stud. It kinda mangled the threads on the stud, so I’m going to […]
Ask Away! with Jeff Smith: Are There Benefits of Staggered Rocker Arms?
Why do some engine builders stagger the rocker arms, 1.6 on the intake and 1.5 on the exhaust? Is there any benefit in doing that?G.L. This is a great question and […]
Ask Away with Jeff Smith: How to Choose the Right Pushrod Length for Taller Lifters on a Big Block Chevy 454
I’ve got a 454 big-block Chevy that I’ve installed a hydraulic roller cam which also meant I had to also use taller hydraulic roller lifters. With it all bolted back […]
Ask Away! with Jeff Smith: Troubleshooting Valve Train on Small Block Chevy 355
I have a 355 c.i.d. small-block Chevy with a big cam, decent compression, and production iron heads. The cam is an Isky 268/272 at 0.050 with 0.640-inch lift. It has […]
Mailbag: What is Valve Spring Coil Bind?
Q: What is valve spring coil bind? … A: Coil bind happens when the valve spring is fully compressed. The coils of the spring contact each other. This stops the […]
Mailbag: What is Valve Float and How Do You Fix It?
Q: What is valve float? … A: Valve float is basically when the valvetrain gets out of control. There are two types of valve float: Loft and Bounce. Loft happens […]
Making the Most of Modern Flat Tappet Camshafts and Lifters
Camshafts and lifters are available in two basic formats—roller and flat tappet. And then within those two formats, they can either be of the mechanical (solid), or hydraulic variety. Fair […]
Video: Top 10 Reasons for Camshaft and Lifter Failure
Camshafts are often erroneously blamed for valvetrain problems. Our friends at COMP Cams set the record straight in today’s video. It highlights several critical issues that are related to camshaft […]