Originally posted by 86brick
Well from what I've been told a LOT of the problems guys have with the flat tappet cams are because they are not installed properly or they are not broken in correctly, so I guess if you have a mechanic that can do both the right way or you know how to do it yourself you should be fine. I wonder how a flat tappet cam needs to be broken in? I think you are supposed to keep the motor revving at a certain rpm for a certain amount of time to break it in correctly, but I'm not sure Anybody who's installed flat tappet cams I would really appreciate it if you'd explain this to me
Let's see, improper cam break in, improper cam break in lube, misaligned lifter bores, too heavy of valve spring, just to name a few of the "causes" I have heard from vendors. Nothing ever conclusive, just guesses.
Never heard "the cam is just a POS", or "there is terrible quality control" or "Maybe the cam isn't hardened correctley". Never the cam itself, no.
Then the Budget Cam fiasco.. Don't need to get into that.
I agree with Jesse. Break in with known good procedures from people who know Buicks.
And with the roller issue, I factor in the "what if" cost if a flat tappet goes flat. Consider the cost of a rebuild, turbo failure ect. If a roller has a better chance(it does), it's a good choice.
I have a 218/212 Hydrolic roller in the race motor. It idles like a stocker and has great street manners. If you are going all out race motor, the 10HP is 10HP so you decide.