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Engine Specific Info and Questions => IDI Engine => Topic started by: silentdub on July 19, 2011, 11:10:06 am

Title: Difference between Hydraulic and Solid Cam?
Post by: silentdub on July 19, 2011, 11:10:06 am
I know the difference actually, but I guess my question would be, Is there a reason to use one and not the other?

All of the previous motors I built were all hydraulic, especially the older V8's.



Is there a reason for one verse the other on a 1.6 N/A? Other than being quieter.
Title: Re: Difference between Hydraulic and Solid Cam?
Post by: R.O.R-2.0 on July 19, 2011, 12:36:12 pm
I know the difference actually, but I guess my question would be, Is there a reason to use one and not the other?

All of the previous motors I built were all hydraulic, especially the older V8's.



Is there a reason for one verse the other on a 1.6 N/A? Other than being quieter.

well, solid lifters need the valves adjusted, hydro lifters dont need adjustment. and you can turn a few more rpms using a solid lifter head on a gasser engine. our engines dont care, the head is not the limiting factor for rpms, the pump is..
Title: Re: Difference between Hydraulic and Solid Cam?
Post by: CRSMP5 on July 19, 2011, 08:31:31 pm
the lobe is different... solid lifter much much longer.. and bigger diameter too..
Title: Re: Difference between Hydraulic and Solid Cam?
Post by: rabbitman on July 19, 2011, 08:34:32 pm
the lobe is different... solid lifter much much longer.. and bigger diameter too..

I believe the valve lift is the same though.
Title: Re: Difference between Hydraulic and Solid Cam?
Post by: CRSMP5 on July 19, 2011, 08:38:57 pm
LOL.. hydro lifter is "longer" so i bet it locks up with non hydro cam first..

people regrind solid cams for performance hydro cams due to the extra metal.. will not work.. and a hydro cam in a non hydro head would require some serious shims to make up the differance..

if you broke your hydro cam.. and are looking for a solution.. you can send delta cams in tacoma washington a solid cam to convert into hydro.. 15 years ago it was a 100$ solution..
Title: Re: Difference between Hydraulic and Solid Cam?
Post by: silentdub on July 20, 2011, 08:52:59 am
LOL.. hydro lifter is "longer" so i bet it locks up with non hydro cam first..

people regrind solid cams for performance hydro cams due to the extra metal.. will not work.. and a hydro cam in a non hydro head would require some serious shims to make up the differance..

if you broke your hydro cam.. and are looking for a solution.. you can send delta cams in tacoma washington a solid cam to convert into hydro.. 15 years ago it was a 100$ solution..


Thanks for the info. I don't need a new cam or want to change anything, I just wanted to know the difference on these little guys.

I think most SB V8's go with hydro unless it is a serious race engine. Well, most are roller now anyway.

I did notice that when I pulled the lifters, a few of them were in 2 pieces. The top part came away from the skirts.
Title: Re: Difference between Hydraulic and Solid Cam?
Post by: Mark(The Miser)UK on July 20, 2011, 09:08:09 am
LOL.. hydro lifter is "longer" so i bet it locks up with non hydro cam first..

people regrind solid cams for performance hydro cams due to the extra metal.. will not work.. and a hydro cam in a non hydro head would require some serious shims to make up the differance..

if you broke your hydro cam.. and are looking for a solution.. you can send delta cams in tacoma washington a solid cam to convert into hydro.. 15 years ago it was a 100$ solution..


Thanks for the info. I don't need a new cam or want to change anything, I just wanted to know the difference on these little guys.

I think most SB V8's go with hydro unless it is a serious race engine. Well, most are roller now anyway.

I did notice that when I pulled the lifters, a few of them were in 2 pieces. The top part came away from the skirts.

They all do that! That is the bit held under oil vaccuum that you change to alter valve gap, and is called a shim. Absent in the hydraulic version ;D
Title: Re: Difference between Hydraulic and Solid Cam?
Post by: silentdub on July 20, 2011, 09:13:13 am
Gotcha, yeah, its not really a lifter in the traditional sense.
Title: Re: Difference between Hydraulic and Solid Cam?
Post by: Mark(The Miser)UK on July 20, 2011, 09:53:13 am
Gotcha, yeah, its not really a lifter in the traditional sense.
Cam follower perhaps.  
Title: Re: Difference between Hydraulic and Solid Cam?
Post by: silentdub on July 20, 2011, 10:31:51 am
Gotcha, yeah, its not really a lifter in the traditional sense.
Cam follower perhaps.  


follower, shim...... I guess I am showing my age when I say lifters, not many motors these days are OHV engines.
Title: Re: Difference between Hydraulic and Solid Cam?
Post by: Mark(The Miser)UK on July 20, 2011, 11:27:01 am
Gotcha, yeah, its not really a lifter in the traditional sense.
Cam follower perhaps.  
follower, shim...... I guess I am showing my age when I say lifters, not many motors these days are OHV engines.

Rockers, push rods and screw adjusters....

And grease nipples, but that's another story  :o