mech lifters, more power? how?

[NintendoKD]

Ok, I have heard this beat up one side and down the other, I want the scoop.  Do the Mechanical lifters allow for more head power? How does this happen, quantifyable?  Setup?  I want to use mech lifters with the aaz setup like another member here has done, but don't want to do so until I'm sure that the investmnt will be worth it, or if it will be worth it to be different.

[MJF]

No difference, not worth imho. Unless if you go crazy with camshaft, and I doubt it very much.
Conversion lifters are available at Rosten Performance for example, 17€ each.

[theman53]

I don't have a dino or anything to measure, but all the mechanical engines I have ever had all reved noticably better than my hydro engines. Don't know if they make more power, don't know if they are more realiable. All I know is that all of my mech engines were more fun for the style I drive. Probably isn't measurable or effect HP overall. To me it just seemed like the engine came to life sooner than my hydro engine.
At the price MJF just quoted with all the work involved I wouldn't do it though.

[RabbitJockey]

mech lifters do make more power and rev better, but the real gains with mechanical lifters are at much higher rpms than our engines will ever see

[NintendoKD]

mech lifters do make more power and rev better, but the real gains with mechanical lifters are at much higher rpms than our engines will ever see

maybe your engine , mine will have a knifedged crank, girdle, dry sump, and "eventually" a beefed up giles pump, I can only guess, but I suppose that the rpm range will certainly change, especially the response in the low ent and the height of the power curve giving more of a top end, If only the crank were de stroked and could have a decent static compression ratio "starting would be impossible "  One of my goals is to stretch the limits of the engine and it's capabilities to the limits, if anyone can squeeze more power from mech lifters it will be me.  How will this work?  can anyone actually tell me?  I am much more farmilliar with Hydro engines  is this because of the reduction in vibrations in the valve springs at high rpm's? *SYLAR* tell me how it works

[truckinwagen]

two motors, with everything else the same, the mech will make more power, especially at higher RPM's

it comes from the fact that hydro lifters require more oil, which takes more power to pump.
also hydro lifters "squish" every time the cam presses on them, and take time to pump back up.

at higher RPM it is possible for the lifters to squish faster than they can pump back up, causing the cam to loose contact with the lifter(like poorly adjusted mech lifters) and also loose valve lift, which affects how much air gets to the motor.

as others have said, this pumping problem of hydro lifters occurs most often at much higher RPM than our motors see.

[NintendoKD]

good, mech lifters for my aaz it is, one question down, about a zillion more to go

thanks guys,

Kevin

[Vincent Waldon]

I think we'll all be interested in hearing back from you on the total costs associated with this conversion... I would have thought this is an extremely expensive way to gain a half-horsepower, but happy to learn how it plays out for you.

[truckinwagen]

why could one not simply leave the valves and springs alone, and install mechanical lifters with lash caps under them to make up the difference in height?

[NintendoKD]

there are already mech lifters for this application and no modification is necessary, just use the shims to get the correct clearance.

[Rabbit on Roids]

hey kev, have you ever built an engine before? how many?

[booneylander]

hey kev, have you ever built an engine before? how many?

 

[NintendoKD]

In theory, in my minds eye, yes, a thousand times over, in real life...... *small voice under his breath* no   I have installed engines, taken countless apart, and studied the operation thereof extensively, but as i hvae said this is truly my first build.

[RabbitJockey]

i thought mechanical lifters do not simply just go into a hydro head

[NintendoKD]

sending off both heads to a rebuilder in norcal, guy says he can do it, as well as swapping the 7mm valves to 8mm.