Upgrade to a roller setup on 1970 GS455 with many TA parts

Sad we need to think about a 600 dollar set of lifters just to run a tappet cam

 

I hear ya, performance ain’t cheap. Also, if you consider being able to reuse them over and over, it’s a good investment.

 

Yes, they're both split duration. I went with TA 284-88H because it has "slightly more torque than TA 212". I thought it sounded so good that I'd turn the radio off at stop lights so I could listen to the engine.

With any of those three cams, there's plenty of vacuum for power brakes.

If money is no object, you may want to consider having your heads ported for even more flow...any cam you get is going to appreciate that.

 

I have the 284-88H cam as well. It has plenty of vacuum for power brakes (approx 16” in N @800, 12” in gear @600), my old boss had the 212 in his and he was running 18” in N and 14” in gear. You’ll be fine with the smaller grinds, the overlap @.50 is what to look for for idle vacuum for the most part, stay below 6* and it’ll be good.

 

The flat tappet cams have a taper to push the cam to the rear of engine.
The lifters have a crown to help spin on the tapered camshaft.
I would install the cam with no lube and the lifters. Spin engine by hand and make sure all the lifters spin. If not swap them to other locations. If the do not spin at all.
Send them out to have the face machined for a crown. It’s being done with good results.

 

This is becoming a more and more important step......I mark each lifter ontop with a permanent marker and install with all marks lined up. Makes it easier to see which do turn.

Started doing this a few years ago after a bbc ate a cam that clearly 6 lifters didnt spin and they ate right through

 

The real problem is manufacturing. The majority of these companies source out different steps in the manufacturing of the parts. They either change the manufacturer because of price,or they simply can’t get the same place to do it anymore. I’ve seen it since the 2000’s. Fluidamper was good,until they made a change. Harland Sharp changed their heat-treat and immediately started having issues with their pushrod cups and locks. Comp had an issue with their roller lifters in the late 2000’s for the same thing. I could go on all day with examples. The increase in profit soon becomes a huge loss,especially once the word gets out. Then it takes some years to re-establish your name.

 

College educated Bean counters always messing up a good thing,....will never change

 

Exactly Hugger. This is how I have always gone about life:
If you provide a product or service the best it can possibly be,you will never have an issue making money,period. I will never change from that. Sure,you will have the ones looking for a deal,and sooner or later,they come back with their tail in between their legs. If your first question is price,stop,you already made too many mistakes.
Example: You build a $5k engine and it fails. You spend another $5k to get it all fixed and sorted out. Now you have $10k in a $5k engine,and it’s still not that good,but you got a deal,right?

 

Interesting video here.

 

Cay yams