Solid vs. Hydraulic grind?

flyboytroy99 · 03-10-2009

Guys, I've done quite a bit of searching and I can't find a definitive answer. What are the pros and cons of solid and hyd. grind cams. With a ported intake, big valve head, etc., why would I choose one over the other?

opeldean · 03-10-2009

I am using the isky combo cam from OGTS,solid lifters, on a 2 liter valved engine.

The cons of this combination is that it is noisy due to the "ticking" of the cam lifter. The ticking carries into the cabin and makes the engine sound cheap or old..is my opinion. My performance is real good in the upper rpms and it drowns out the ticking. I dont drive in the upper 3000 plus range tho...therefore

My car is a driver, if I had to it over again, I would go with a hydraulic lifter. I went solid because I thought the performance would be better. Thats the way the 69-70 engines came too.

It is my understanding that the lifter doesnt affect performance signicantly.

I vote hydraulic, for me.

jeff denton · 03-11-2009

High performance, high RPM, you drive like a maniac and race every Honda you see, mechanical lifters absolutely. Yes they make a little noise, when I hear that noise I think, ah, a hot rod. Like anybody would ever notice it over 750 watts of Megadeth Greatest Hits. You have to adjust them now and then. Very simple with some practice. Part of hot rod maintenance, you fiddle with 'em after every rear tire change. You know that whenever the cam lobe starts lifting the tappet, the valve is opening also, there is no delay, and they couldn't possibly ever "pump up" and hold your valve open at high rpm. The valve opens a little faster as the cam has a steeper "ramp". Important things when you need a screaming engine and every tenth of a horsepower you can get.

Putt-putting and cruising, babying your car around, you don't want any speeding tickets and popping wheelies just isn't your thing, go hydraulic. They are quieter; that ticking just doesn't harmonize well with Mozart sonatas and you never ever want to have to pull that slimy valve cover again. So you don't have quite the performance as the hot rod. You don't care. A couple more horsepower just gets you in trouble and scares you.

Simple choice now, huh?

RallyBob · 03-11-2009

Originally Posted by flyboytroy99

Guys, I've done quite a bit of searching and I can't find a definitive answer. What are the pros and cons of solid and hyd. grind cams. With a ported intake, big valve head, etc., why would I choose one over the other?

Hydraulic lifters
*PRO: quieter
*PRO: less adjustments
*PRO: lifters are cheaper than solids
*CON: restricted to 6800 rpms or less (sustained rpms, occasional is fine)
*CON: won't make as much power as solid lifters due to cam design
*CON: if you over-rev them, either the lifters can collapse (noisy as heck), or they can pump up (could be catastrophic). Just something to consider.

For a street engine, and even a mild performance engine of say, 125 hp or less, the hydraulics make perfect sense. Most camshaft upgrades by Opel owners are very modest at best, and there would be no performance advantage going to solid lifters.

Bob

flyboytroy99 · 03-11-2009

Great info guys. Thank you. And the winner is.............Hydraulic! (for my application anyways).

03-10-2009	#1 (permalink)
flyboytroy99 Opeler Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 45	Answered: Solid vs. Hydraulic grind? Guys, I've done quite a bit of searching and I can't find a definitive answer. What are the pros and cons of solid and hyd. grind cams. With a ported intake, big valve head, etc., why would I choose one over the other? __________________ 70GT2NV

03-10-2009	#2 (permalink)
opeldean 1000 Post Club Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Overland Park KS Posts: 1,999 Provided Answers: 1	con on solid I am using the isky combo cam from OGTS,solid lifters, on a 2 liter valved engine. The cons of this combination is that it is noisy due to the "ticking" of the cam lifter. The ticking carries into the cabin and makes the engine sound cheap or old..is my opinion. My performance is real good in the upper rpms and it drowns out the ticking. I dont drive in the upper 3000 plus range tho...therefore My car is a driver, if I had to it over again, I would go with a hydraulic lifter. I went solid because I thought the performance would be better. Thats the way the 69-70 engines came too. It is my understanding that the lifter doesnt affect performance signicantly. I vote hydraulic, for me. __________________ Thank you members of opelgt.com for helping me on a 5 year reconstruction of the most beautiful car in the world Celeste: 1917,cc ,getrag resealed, 2liter Intake valves,ported,ISKY cam on solids,Opel forged rods,9.52 compression,total seal gapless,oil dam,RB gasket mod., DCOE side drafts,sprint,2in straight exhaust,pertronix,OMNI paint,SACHS clutch,OGTS & Kadette sway bars,Manta finned pan,3 V clock,Ball joints and Poly all... SAA-WEET!
	1 out of 1 members found this post helpful.

03-11-2009	#3 (permalink)
jeff denton former opel racer Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: near some glaciers Posts: 2,863 Real Name: Jeff "Oh-Oh" Denton Provided Answers: 4	High performance, high RPM, you drive like a maniac and race every Honda you see, mechanical lifters absolutely. Yes they make a little noise, when I hear that noise I think, ah, a hot rod. Like anybody would ever notice it over 750 watts of Megadeth Greatest Hits. You have to adjust them now and then. Very simple with some practice. Part of hot rod maintenance, you fiddle with 'em after every rear tire change. You know that whenever the cam lobe starts lifting the tappet, the valve is opening also, there is no delay, and they couldn't possibly ever "pump up" and hold your valve open at high rpm. The valve opens a little faster as the cam has a steeper "ramp". Important things when you need a screaming engine and every tenth of a horsepower you can get. Putt-putting and cruising, babying your car around, you don't want any speeding tickets and popping wheelies just isn't your thing, go hydraulic. They are quieter; that ticking just doesn't harmonize well with Mozart sonatas and you never ever want to have to pull that slimy valve cover again. So you don't have quite the performance as the hot rod. You don't care. A couple more horsepower just gets you in trouble and scares you. Simple choice now, huh? __________________ No Opels were harmed in the filming of this movie. However two Mustangs, a Pinto, and a Capri were hospitalized. One Mustang was euthanized the next morning. Last edited by jeff denton; 03-11-2009 at 12:53 AM.

03-11-2009	#5 (permalink)
flyboytroy99 Opeler Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 45	Great info guys. Thank you. And the winner is.............Hydraulic! (for my application anyways). __________________ 70GT2NV

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