Rhoads Variable Lifters. . .Auto-X/Road Racing???

[atomicjoe23]

Has anyone used Rhoads Variable lifters for Auto-X or Road Racing???

Thoughts, experiences???

I've got a '67 Firebird with a 400 that I'm doing some top end upgrades too and just read about these in the "Building Max Performance Pontiac Engines" book. . .that book is geared towards drag racing so I was wondering if they would be beneficial for Auto-X or Road racing. . .sounds like they might be.

Thanks for the help!

[Vegas69]

My gut tells me no. Drag racing lasts 15 seconds. Road racing lasts 20 minutes. I wouldn't want them in a sustained high rpm application.

[Panteracer]

Used them on several autocross motors... seemed to do ok
I think the new roller lifters are a better thing now

I would also look at what pan you have as I have had
no luck with any that say it is a road race style
Accumlator is the only way I am able to keep the oil
pressure up in a Pontiac motor while hitting the turns hard
Spun many a bearing in the Pontiacs in the past

Bob with an MR-1 494 CV-1 headed Pontiac now

[atomicjoe23]

Thanks Panteracer. . .I heard back from Jack Rhoads as well and he said they are successfully used in auto-X and road racing applications. . .

[GregWeld]

I don't understand why you'd want to use these. Today's roller cams offer so much more power and drivability. The need for Rhoad's lifters as a bandaid for too much cam on the street is so "yesterday".

[atomicjoe23]

That's why I'm asking GregWeld. . .trying to figure out what is out there and current for Pontiac engines for this type of application. . .

[Later-A-Body]

Rhoads lifters work very well on the Pontiac motor. I have used them in the past with great results. Read some literature written by Jim Hand regarding these used in a street driven 4000 pound '71 Pontiac "GTO" station wagon that was used for testing many Pontiac parts. The car was consistently faster and much more streetable with the Rhoads lifters installed. They used the factory RAIV cam as a test base in a mildly modified 455. If you are not wanting to spend extra money to step up to a roller valvetrain, then the Rhoads would be a very good choice especially in a 400. They may have been designed 30 years ago, but they work just as well now as they did back in the day. I cant see why they wouldn't work in an autocross application. You want more throttle response and torque coming out of the corners. If you haven't spoke to a Pontiac expert, I would highly recommend calling SD Performance, Kaufmann Racing, or Butler Performance for all your options.

[GregWeld]

It's not that they "don't work" -- they do what they're advertised to do.... What we're saying is that these days there are fantastic alternatives that didn't exist when the Rhoads lifter came to be. Today's cam profiles offer
exceptional road manners and great power.

I agree - a roller cam/lifters are more expensive than a flat tappet cam/lifters... but there are huge benefits.

Originally Posted by Later-A-Body

Rhoads lifters work very well on the Pontiac motor. I have used them in the past with great results. Read some literature written by Jim Hand regarding these used in a street driven 4000 pound '71 Pontiac "GTO" station wagon that was used for testing many Pontiac parts. The car was consistently faster and much more streetable with the Rhoads lifters installed. They used the factory RAIV cam as a test base in a mildly modified 455. If you are not wanting to spend extra money to step up to a roller valvetrain, then the Rhoads would be a very good choice especially in a 400. They may have been designed 30 years ago, but they work just as well now as they did back in the day. I cant see why they wouldn't work in an autocross application. You want more throttle response and torque coming out of the corners. If you haven't spoke to a Pontiac expert, I would highly recommend calling SD Performance, Kaufmann Racing, or Butler Performance for all your options.

[atomicjoe23]

Ron,

I am going to TRY to remember to look at the heads tonight. . .it's been very hectic over here (as I'm sure it has been for everyone else as well) and I haven't been able to spend any time in the garage the last couple of weeks. . .

Thanks for your patience and help!