HARD Lesson Learned About Chinese Junk!

Made what I THOUGHT was a good score on a set of "White Box" roller lifters for my blown DeSoto Hemi. Everything microed out fine, machining looked good, etc, etc. They worked fine...for about 50 miles! Got about a mile from home, and the engine started back firing through the carbs and running rough. Heard lifter ticking noises and it seemed to be missing on a couple of cylinders so I pulled the blower/intake/valley pan. Check out what I found! I've ordered a new set of Lunati Rollers (made by Morel) for $339, with free Shipping, from Race Mart in Tampa. I haven't even pulled the cam yet, but I'll bet that I've got 4 bunged up lobes in the bargain. And I knew better, too. You may ALL start kicking me in my ass .

 

Sounds like you have already kicked yourself, but will remember the lesson.

I can't imagine how frustrating that must be..

Good luck with your cam!

 

not to mention what may have made its way through the motor. I hope its just as simple as the lifter swap.

*crosses fingers*

 

I sell generic condoms if your interested, could save you a little money.

 

Where/who did you purchase them from so others don't make that mistake? Did it say they were made in China? Any warranty maybe?

 

Oh man! That's such a bummer!

If you don't mind me asking, where did you by the "white box" lifters??

 

Ouch. At least you'll only make that mistake once. Like my dad says-"It costs no more to go first class". Thanks for the info.

 

OUCH! Sorry to hear the bad news Tony.

.

 

No thanks! I just turn them inside out and shake the fuck out of them.

 

Tony, sorry to hear that dude.

I have a set of these on the shelf too for my blown 330 - thank YOU for the heads up, they'll just be left on the shelf for keeps.

Lunati one will be the one to go with now.

More $$ oh well, better than trashing a custom made roller cam or worse, putting debris thru a fresh HEMI engine.

Let us know if the cam "made it"

Good luck....

Rat

 

Hey a friend of mine and I used to buy those at Piggly Wiggly. We used them on the buddy system first he used one then turned it inside out and I used it.

. . .Soto sorry to see that happen to ya. I hope its nothing more than busted lifters for ya. You might pull the pan just to ease your mind.

No kicking here, I've cut corners before myself just to find myself in the same boat. It'll work better for you next time.

 

What is a white box lifter any how? And from where? ( have had pretty good luck with Lunati stuff, hope it lasts, my motor has some time on it....) Good luck with yours.

 

Alot of the "import" parts/components are starting to be packaged in plain/generic white boxes.

 

I don't suppose these lifters came from Hot Heads, did they?

 

That is a hard lesson. All I ever broke was four trunk handles made in China for Vinteque. I could never find an American made one. So I finally installed an electric opener and never touched the handle again.

 

The box may have been mismarked. Said contains lifters but realy had downers in it.

 

sorry to see you've got a problem. I am curious how it ran? Did it haul ass before it broke?

 

youch! Where did the rest of the metal go?

 

What a bummer. Sorry to see this. I think I remember when we were all talking about these on one of the hemi cam threads. Weren't these from Ebay?

 

Thanks for the heads up. I'm sure others have been tempted to buy "Sum Flung Dung Brand" parts because of the cost savings.

Hope your hemi is back running soon. Dan

 

That's painful dude, hope there's not too much other damage!

 

Always buy the best parts you cant afford

 

always remember this one, good shit isn't cheap, and cheap shit isn't good! but you did try. with the way the economy is i don't blame you for trying to save a few bucks!

 

I had made an order with PAW some years back for a rebuild kit, figured how bad could it be? The main bearings came in ONE white box, all loose jangling around. I looked them over, had to stone out a few nicks, but I never bought anything from them again.

Bob

 

"The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of the low price is forgotten"

 

More pictures of the lifters. Believe it or not, the cam (Mid 50's made, with American steel) is fine...a testament to Chet Herbert's work. Square wheel, busted lifter body, busted link bar...and half of the rest of them are collapsed. Still got a wheel in the oil pan, too. NO, I didn't over rev it or pound it. I was babying it until I broke it in. Closest I can figure is that the rollers weren't rolling right...may be slightly cocked. At any rate, the Lunati's are repackaged Morels...according to the Tech at Lunati. We shall see what we shall see. BTW, they weren't Hot Heads, I got them on ebay...

 

Depending on the sellers morals you may want to let them know that they are selling crap parts. If they want to stay in business they may change and if they don't then Karma is a bitch.

 

just get some jb weld and duct tape. that'll fix it!!!!!!

dang, that sux man. glad you weren't too far from home tho. otherwise that would've really sucked! hope your cam ain't busted. good luck!

 

Where are they from?

 

Wow, the way those rollers look I'm surprised that the cam didn't have any damage. Those rollers must be pretty soft.