Lifters from Hot Heads - Concerned

Is anyone using Lifters from Hot Heads Research and Racing? I just got these today and I always get a little concerned when I see a completely unmarked box and no identification marks anywhere on the lifters either.

Anyone have a clue who makes them? Or more to the point... any clue WHERE they are made? I'm tempted to send them back. I DEMAND long life out of this Hemi and if I chunk a lifter I'm going to be mad! Haven't called them yet, but I'm close to picking up the phone. I just expect the run-around when I call.

 

I was kind of wondering the same thing whan I got my solids from them. Im looking foward to you reporting back on who, or where these are made.

 

Anybody here have Vizard's book on camshafts and valvetrains?? In that, he says that there are I think three US suppliers of lifters, and he shows how to distinguish them by popping the clip and looking at minor internal manufacturing differences. If they don't match those ID points, i would be thinking China immediately.

 

I will pop a clip off right now!

 

Looks kind of like the whitebox dropship lifters that Hi-Tech Engine Components used to sell. We sold their products when I worked at Year One, not bad stuff, but definately not top shelf.

 

I see absolutely no markings. Would the manufacturer be indicated by a groove placement, possibly??



Not very clear, but maybe someone will notice something...

 

call 'em...

 

Okay, I couldn't take it anymore so I called them. Deborah said they are made by Enginetech. I'm ***uming it's this company:

http://www.enginetech.com/index.php

Anyone have any knowledge of them?

 

The markings are NOT clear brand names...just the way the innards are made, part shapes! The reason is that almost all sales are OEM factories or through cam spe******ts, and nothing is sold as "Acme Lifter' or whatever! The book shows particular metering parts that have unique shapes

 

On normal rebuilds I have always demanded and received Melling products which to date have never had a failure. In performance I like Jessel which is a cut above any other valve components made period.There are still good American products out there but you have to look for them.

 

Okay, that's what I figured. I didn't really expect to see a name or anything. I figured maybe a groove placement or just some type of mark would be present.

In the mean time... anyone heard of Enginetech??

 

I just called enginetech and that guy said he'd never heard of HotHeads and that they don't even have any parts for early Hemi. He was a little bit of a jerk at first but warmed up pretty quickly. His guess was Egge...

 

WOW! Thanks for making the call Paulie!

I have to be very honest here. I have not been particularly happy with Hot Heads over the last year or so. I think the support has been ****, the quality has been sub-par, but I thought maybe I was just being a little picky. Now I'm REALLY on a mission to find out about these lifters. If they're not a reputable brand, it will be the last straw for Hot Heads and my business. I already try to buy most of my stuff through our HAMB member 73RR (Gary at Quality Engineered Components) because I know he only sells top quality parts. I had to order something from Hot Heads anyway so I just figured I would grab the lifters while I was at. Price was competative, but not the best, so I figured they were selling good quality components.

Maybe it is another "Enginetech" brand. Maybe it's spelled different. I'll poke around some more.

 

Look all around for something similar to this: Động cơ công nghệ của công ty phụ tùng xe máy (Enginetech motor parts company).



.

 

HAHA! I looked for that actually.... LOL! I guess it could be GOOD that I DIDN'T see that...

 

Actually, thats Vietamiese,,, I couldn't translate Chiniese, lol. I'll bet dollars to doughnuts they made a trip on a boat,,, most USA made stuff is proud (as they should be) to say so.

 

They appear to me to look just like early (pre64) bigblock Mopar lifters, with the narrow pushrod ends.
Perhaps HotHeads just orders their lifters as 'early style bigblock Mopar lifters', while they might be exactly the same as early Hemi ones. EngineTech might not even know they also fit early Hemis perhaps.
Just thinking out loud here a bit.

 

I have used a bit of hotheads stuff for a red ram hemi. Service and product was good. EXCEPT for lifters which came in the same packaging as you have. The motor has done about 5000 miles and allways has had lifter noise. Not always the same one, but I adjust one that is noisy and another one starts up. Not an easy job to adjust with adjustable pushrods in a full bodied car. Another guy here has a '92 with the same problem. I have changed oils, checked the cam,[hasn't wiped any lobes thru this modern **** oil, so I presume it is these lifters. When I got them I was concerned when I saw the plain boxes. I am interested to hear from any one else with similar probs.
Phil.

 

I have a set in my dodge 270, and they make a little noise. I was going to re-adjust the pushrods, when an old hemi guy told me to leave it alone.

I adjusted mine to zero lash plus 1 turn on the pushrods, so that's the best you can do.

The noise is supposed to be there, as it is nostagic, and called:

The Chrysler Clack

Gee, I didn't know I had a nostalgic sound, ha. We could have a Clacklefest. Anyway, I have no problems at 1100 miles with them.

 

Just call and speak to Bob, he's the owner. This is a small family business and he's a great guy that really knows his stuff. He should be able to answer any questions you have. Again, I know him personally, and he's a real hot rod kind of guy. Good people.

 

have talked to bob before on a hemi rebuild . he was good to talk to, i believe he knows his hemi stuff. call and talk directly to him. see what he says about the lifters. cannt blame you for being concerned, that hemi stuff aint cheap!!!

 

I once ordered a 392 Hemi blower kit from Hot Heads. Paid them 3500 dollars for the kit. Got it in the mail and noticed that the blower belt was 3 inches too short. I think O.K. no problem....call them up and I talk right with Bob Walker. He acknowledges that with my description the belt is too short. At that point he tells me to call Weiand with my problem. I say well I bought the kit from you. He says it's Weiand's kit and they should be able to help. I say you sold the product and you want me to contact someone else to solve my problem? He finally got tired of my not being able to have him fix my problem that he said well this time I'll take care of it. I felt like he thought he was doing me a favor!! It just seemed real strange that a company would not take care of an obvious admitted problem with a product they sell.

 

That really doesn't help unless you're building a SBC or SBF, they really don't make much for the older Hemi's let alone Nailheads or such....

 

In his defense, he probably was trying to do you a favor to get it to you quicker. You get it directly from Weiand and it doesn't have to go to his shop and then to you. That said, I don't know your particular situation and you're probably right to be a little upset.

Bob is a neighbor of my folks, I've not done any business with him. But I know he's a hell of a nice guy with a p***ion for hemis.

 

That cardboard is a dead giveaway. I've never bought anything made in the US that was packed in that thin *** cardboard and taped shut like that.

 

kinda lame question but what a paw?, i know a machinist who used to do the head work for them he said they used too had a qaulity product (maybe they changed owners awhile ago).

 

...and saves him money.

All he has to do is call the supplier and tell them to ship the boy a belt with a return UPS sticker. Making a customer jump through hoops is stupid.

He's not very careful when pulling parts anymore. There's no telling what he's going to ship you. I had to replace the crank indexer on the GM transmission adaptor, as he sent me the wrong one, and my starter wouldn't engage. Then another time I got a dodge oil pump with a chrysler adaptor instead of a dodge one. It's not funny when you have to do things twice.

These lifters are the same quality as stock chrysler lifters. They are street lifters and not racing lifters.

If I was to do another hemi, I wouldn't use flat tappet anymore. Modify the engine for roller lifters, and then you won't have a zinc issue either.

 

I'm not saying you're wrong. Just to be clear. LikeI said, I only know him personally, not a business relationship (I don't run any hemis). So, my opinion probably doesn't mean much. Sorry.

 

Okay, the first thing I want to address is Bob. Bob is a HELL of a nice guy! I've talked to him NUMEROUS times and he's been helpful. He knows Hemis, that's for sure. But I have to be honest, I don't agree with everything Bob says. I've brought up points to him that he couldn't resolve that were about the products HE SELLS with HIS company name on them and he didn't have answers. So let's just say, being nice is not a subs***ute for correct knowledge. I would much rather talk to a total jerk and get the CORRECT answer than be dismissed from the phone by a friendly voice only to find the answers I received were INCORRECT! And let me tell you... one of the problems "the nice voice" on the other end of the phone gave me cost me some SERIOUS time and money at one point of my build. So let's just not go there.

Now, his Wife, Deborah, gave me the straight answer with NO hesitation that I was looking for. As was stated by Dreddybear earlier, that company she mentioned doesn't stock or sell such a product. So what am I supposed to think now? Does this go right back to the point I made above about nice people and wrong answers?

Aussie Oldie, I appreciate your input on this matter. That is the type of information I need to hear more of. I need some straight feedback. There has to be more people using these with SOME kind of feedback.

Consider this the real deal review folks. If these lifters are garbage, I want to know and YOU guys need to know as well! If it saves myself or someone else from troubles down the road it is worth it. So let's get some honest, logical feedback.

If I have to, I will call back and talk to Bob on Monday. Sure is getting old getting the run-around everytime I call with questions though. Maybe I should have bought from EGGE and followed my instincts...

 

I read a good portion of that website and it is typical "rebuilders sales lingo" throughout. One thing I didn't see on there were 4 simple words,,,,,, Made in the USA.