How many guys out there are running their cams on roller bearings? (like the kits available from Comp Cams) I am thinking of running them in my built SBC and running some tests at work. Have you heard of any issues? Have you considered running them but they were too expensive? Gimme yer thoughts.... Thanks
Never considered them. My concern is usually rocker stability, I'd be afraid too much seat pressure would flat spot one of those little guys, but have 0 experience to back it up.
I seem to remember some article years ago where someone put in rollers and dyno'd the engine and hp was exactly the same.... Normal cam bearings work, is there some reason you want to make the engine more complicated?
I've asked engineers and engine builders about them and I haven't got a real answer on why they are better. A stock cam bearing allows the cam to "float" on a layer of oil with no metal to metal contact and the rollers would have ~80+ points of contact with all those needle rollers you would think that they would actually take more power and produce more heat than a stock type. In my opinion, if your setup is not broke.....
Back in the 60's, Crower sold the "imperial" fully rollerized cam which was what you're talking about. It never caught on. I personally never talked to anyone who owned one. They were made for drag racing. That usually refers to " short lived".
My reasons for wanting to run them are sorted.... 1. Reduce Oil Temperature - Hydro bearings actually shear the oil creating heat. - Roller bearings run on splash oil 2. Reduce oil pressure/flow requirements - Use lower flow oil pump, which will reduce parasitic losses 3. Reduce friction, especially at low rpm - this combined with a smaller oil pump could allow for a slower idle rpm or bigger cam.... yet to be tested 4. I am an engineer working for a bearing company... - I cannot leave well enough alone. Squirrel, Do you remember where you saw the dyno article? Does anybody on here run these? Thanks
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