Tool steel lifters

[67xr7cat]

I bought a 63' 427 block so will have to use a solid cam. I have a sft cam, is a cast iron core. I've heard you can run uncoated tool steel lifters to avoid the possibility of a lobe going flat and trashing the engine. Anyone have experience good or bad using tool steel lifters to avoid cam failure?

[CaptCobrajet]

Tool steel on cast does work.  You still need plenty of lobe taper, lifters that spin freely in the bore, and a break-in on lighter springs, but tool steel is a good way to go.  Be sure they DO NOT have an EDM hole.  I don't like the hole anyway, but with no pressure fed oil, it is just a good place to start a problem.

[Royce]

We use tool steel lifters in our hot Y blocks after a series of lifter failures. (Breakage at stem to foot line) I have looked at the tool steel versions on tear down and there is not even a witness mark on them..I usually slip in another cam and go with the same set..  So far no problems. They are tougher and harder than the cast lifters.

Mine are made by Trend

[blykins]

My higher end flat tappet engines, both FE and SBF use the Trend tool steel lifters.  It’s added protection.  The lifters are SBF height, so be aware that pushrod length will be different.

The DLC coated lifters are $$$ nd are made for steel core solid flat tappet cams.

Blair brings up a good point about lobe taper.  I always instruct Comp and Bullet to use the “max lobe taper”, which is usually a few degrees over normal.  It helps spin the lifter in the bore.  Another added benefit of fully custom cams.