My SBC 383 sounds like it has solid lifters but I know they are hydraulic flat tappet because I adjusted them! The engine was built in the late 80's, early 90's but hasn't been fired till 2 years ago. Anyone running Rhodes lifters please tell me something about them! I'd like to hear what they sound like, anyone with a video with the sound they make? Thanks! Joe
I used them in a 327 with L79 cam back in the 80 s. The "tick" they make is similar to solids but not exactly; it is softer and in my case, went away by 2600-2800 rpm, if I remember correctly. I used them because I had a stock converter and wanted to reduce the idle rpm and reduce the car wanting to "creep" at stoplights etc. The plan was moderately successful. No performance problems with the lifters.
They are designed to have a variable valve timing/duration aspect....a "step up/transition/step down" envelope so to speak. Tames a wilder hydraulic cam a bit, more vacuum, and the like. I love 'em. The newer ones are slightly different....I believe the originals one could use adjustable or non-adjustable valvetrains......(hopefully lucky you).....newer are adjustable valvetrain only. They make noise at lower rpms, but get quiter on the uppers. Very cool. Forgot about those things, and am now wondering why the hell I did. Actually, most of my stuff is roller hydraulic....so I suppose that's why I haven't thought of them lately.
Wasnt there just a thread on here that had a model a with what everyone thought had rhodes lifters. Sounded like a rod was going to come thru the side of the block.
I have them in my roadster, if they don't make noise at idle then you have them adjusted too tight. If they are adjusted correctly they will make noise at idle.
Tim, Would it be possible for you to post a video with sound of your roadster up close so I could hear what Rhodes lifters actually sound like to compare to my engine ??
As far as I am concerned these lifters are just POS. They are very noisy at an idle. Just can't see any good use for them, If your cam id too big to drive on the street, change the cam
Lmao I ran them and loved them. The technology is simple and works. They have their limitations and wont help with too severe of a cam. At low rpm they shorten the cams duration and lower the lift slightly. As far as sound, I never noticed anything annoying about them. Solid lifters have their own racket because of the open lash. Rhodes don't have any open lash
I had a 350 SBC with a Rodes Cam & lifters the cam was a "RV" cam that had a great sound and a nice lumpy idle but pulled strong with a performer manifold and a 650 carb turbos 350 and 3:00 gears. I adjusted the lifters once to the specs and that was it! Had that engine in the '41 pickup for nearly 10 years no issues. Truck is gone now, no audio available
Wow, forgot all about these. Seems like oil pressure and viscosity would play a big factor in their performance and sound. So at idle is the lifter piston moving in with valve spring pressure when the valve is open (reducing duration/lift) and then moving back out when the valve closes to take up the lash?
Mp4 video inside. http://www.nastyz28.com/forum/showthread.php?t=233029 Installed a set of Rhoads original lifters (#9518) in my 8.65:1 SCR Pontiac 413 with Ultradyne .470/.500 231/235 @ .050 110 LSA hydraulic camshaft installed per Tim Goolsbys recommendation on a 102.75 (actual) ICL. Lifters were adjusted, per Jack Rhoads recommendations to turn past zero lash on the heel of each lobe. Isky #5105 dual springs with damper are installed at 1.687 for 105 lbs seated and 265/270 lbs open. Before the switch to the Rhoads lifters, the cranking compression (4 pulses WOT) at 4400 ft/asl was 152 psi. Idle was 675 and choppy with 8-10 in/Hg of vacuum at idle. The PCV valve could be heard chattering at this vacuum level. After the Rhoads were installed, cranking compression increased to 165 psi @ 4400 ft/asl and idle is now 675 and smooth 13-14 in/Hg idle vacuum. Off-idle response is phenomenal compared to what it was with standard lifters. The most amazing thing is how quiet the lifters are. The sound is more like a sewing machinenot at all a mechanical click, just very faint and even sounding. The biggest surprise is how much harder the car comes on at 3000 rpm when the lobe profiles are restored. The car always had explosive acceleration, but now, it is ever more extreme. If you are opening the throttle slowly, and have some traction, once the tach hits 3000 rpm, it just blows the back tires off the car, even up to 40-45 mph, and once you break it loose, there is no bringing it back under control, you have to lift. Here are links to the before and after idle videos. These reflect the straight lifter swap with no adjustments to carb or timing: Before: http://s575.photobucket.com/albums/s...adsLifters.mp4 After Rhoads Lifters: http://s575.photobucket.com/albums/s...adsLifters.mp4 While many will describe these lifters as a crutch, I will now think of them more as a tuning tool than anything else. They work!!!...Robert
Amen...I used them in a 389 Pontiac engine with a lumpy cam and a "bang shift, slant-pan 4 speed hydro. Those trannys dont' have a torque converter-they have a fluid coupling that locks up at about 12-1500 RPM. With a long duration cam, you need any low RPM help you can get and I found it with the Rhoades lifters. Made it possible to drive this thing on the street and have pretty good torque at low rpms. Great sound kinda like a loose sewing machine but I don't have any video of it running, sorry.
I really wish there was a way to tell if my SBC 383 had Rhodes Lifters short of pulling it apart. I listen to the intake manifold runners where they meet the head with my stethoscope and all the way around you hear a distinct ticking noise that goes away about 2000 RPM. The engine was built in the late 80's or early 90's maybe by a shop in Tucson. I talked to the shop owner today and he said they built engines in that time period with Rhodes Lifters! So who knows? Joe
Did those videos in the link work for you? Now what would Change for you if you knew for sure one way or the other?
The problem with the videos is all you can hear is exhaust sound, I want tho hear the engine with the Rhodes lifter tick! I don't have a problem running the Rhodes lifters! The truck runs really good, if I thought it had Rhodes Lifters I would continue to drive the wheels off it. Not knowing, I don't know if I can trust it, say on a long trip! I guess for now I will keep a close ear to it and continue local trips. Joe
Ok, if its Rhodes lifters msking the noises, the noises will be everywhere on all rockers, not concentrated in one spot. The extra noise from the lifters has been said to be that of a sewing machine, not a munchkin trying to get out of the engine. At idle, each valve will make 1 noise for every 2 Rmps. So some quick match will tell you at 500 Rpms and 16 valves you'll hear 66 of them a second. That's going to be like a whhirrrr, not a distinguishable thunk, tick, or tapping.
Like I said, with a stethoscope you can hear the ticking all the way around the intake manifold where the runners meet the heads. Not just in one spot. Maybe like a noisy sewing machine!
When a stethoscope is used, you will be able to hear the distinguishable noises. Try this. Get an old valve cover and saw it in 1/2 length wise. Get a set of rocker clips that deflect oil, speedway sells them. Start it up and use the stethoscope directly on the rocker studs. Listen for them all to sound about even.
When I listen to the manifold at the head you can hear the individual lifters, they all sound similar! I'm thinking it has Rhodes lifters by the sound. Good idea with the valve cover! I may give that a try!
I ran Rhodes in a 327 I had in my 55 BA Chevy---the cam was very similar to a L79---I think the available vacuum at low rpm improved a lot. I could get "all" of the carb right at off idle.
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