Interesting video on current lifter quality
 

Interesting video from a YouTuber who looked at current lifter offerings, while not terribly scientific they come to their own conclusions that echo what a lot of folks say regarding the Hylift Johnson’s

https://youtu.be/m3A8uMQ2d1U?si=X0u4QtTuTF-gnmmc

I don’t know how old the video was. But my recollection is Hughes engines (Mopar only)has always used HLJ for their lifters. There cams are currently ground by Howard’s, before that they were ground by Engle cams. Hughes also offer HLJ’s “S” lifter, which is an extremely expensive slow bleed flat tappet lifter, and exclusive only from HLJ. I don’t think Lunati has used HLJ lifter for several years. I have a set of micro-trio’s from 2018, I do not recall them being the same as HLJ’s, I had HLJ’s at the same time. FWIW…We had some 80’s Standyne lifters and some late seventies Johnson’s we source for a couple other engines. The late 70s Johnson’s have a very nice finish compared to any of the other lifters, the foot is polished like jewelry.

I would have preferred if they tested a Hy-Lift Johnson lifter rather then relying on speculation that the other brand lifters were in fact using the Hy-Lift Johnson body. Suppliers over the years frequently change suppliers depending on price and availability. Why didn't they test Comp lifters? It would have been nice to know when these lifter were manufactured but nothing in the study to indicate if it was 1995 or 2020? They all had hardness within spec but many speculate failures are due to soft lifters. I saw another video recently and tests indicated the lifters had hardness within spec but crown was an issue. Another factor, the surface anomalies in the photos, would they be considered within limits by the manufacturer? Would they actually contribute to Lifter/cam lobe failure? I would not use them based on the photos but I don't know if that condition would contribute to a failure if the hardness and crown was correct. Nevertheless interesting information.

'Justin Lotspeich' Poly 318 Website - (https://poly318.com/) looks like a legit Mopar guy to me, the video is 4 months old so I'm guessing the info is current.

"I produce content to help educate others about automotive topics ranging from vintage Dodge, Chrysler, Plymouth, DeSoto, Mopar to modern vehicles."
https://www.youtube.com/@Poly318/videos

Best way to expect or stand behind a warranty is through quality.
I utilize the kit option from Lunati so there's no confusion.


Frank

Is there a way to tell JHL visually from other brands , other than face? After years of tinkering a person may have 3 or 4 sets of used lifters matched to cams and 3 or 4 sets of new lifters all from various souces and decades..

plunger build ?

Yes, it’s a very current video & he verified with tech support for each manufacturer that they are in fact using Johnson lifter bodies for all except for Melling & Howard’s who would only state made in the US. What struck me was the difference between the lifters even using the same bodies, showed me that it’s all in the finish machine work/assembly.

Here is a photo, starting left to right, HLJ - Melling- NOS GM.

I also had a set of current AC-Delco lifters which appear to be Melling.

Note the large chamfer on the face of the NOS GM.

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...9&d=1707223542

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...0&d=1707223640

Morning Dataway. The last melling lifters I ordered came without the hard faced cap on the foot of the lifter. Stellite? might be the name and have never had a failure using the old style.

Bummer...

The plant making the Delphi GM hardened foot lifters quit mfg them a couple years ago. I think it was in Mexico.. Easy too spot them by the groove above the foot.

I haven’t bought a Lunati HFT lifter for several years. They are always out of stock, Summit does not even list Lunati lifters at all. It could be Lunati went back to HLJ since the last time I used them, I have noticed their prices went up a lot on Jeg’s site, seems like right now you can tell which companies source HLJ by just comparing prices. If they appear cheap, likely not HLJ. From what I recall the Mopar Lunati lifters I had in 2018 the lifter body was different.

I bought those Mellings about five years ago, I think from Rock Auto. Made in USA, and they appear the same as a somewhat older set of AC-Delco lifters.

The capped Mellings are what is installed in my engine right now, and doing fine. I kept a set of GM NOS just in case. After careful examination and measuring the GM NOS were by far the most accurate, consistent and well machined, the Mellings came in second, the HLJ third.

Rock Auto still lists two varieties of Melling lifter, both capped, one standard, one "high performance" ... no data on where they are made.

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...3&d=1707235715

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...4&d=1707235728

I don’t know what this means for the guys lifter video, right from Hughes site. I guess HLJ isn’t immune from QC issues either.

Sadly, everything thing today has the potential for being subpar.

That large chamfer would worry me.

This is exactly why I stopped building for others.
This crap never used to be an issue.

Interesting Data. Here is a picture of what they are selling as the melling JB951. Let me know what you guys think.

last two orders were the new style as well and had to find a local old supply. Truman Fields had some interesting posts about the hard faced lifters.

I think that maybe be an Eaton lifter made in Mexico. Eaton does not have the hardened foot.

I think you are correct on the Eaton style Jay and what they are now selling as JB951.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/mel-jb-951

That chamfer is direct from GM .. both sets of original GM lifters I have, have that chamfer. Not sure how it would play with modern cam profiles but evidently it was SOP back in the day.

Looking closely you can see the OEM GM has the most chamfer, the Melling has less, and the HLJ the least.

I guess it would depend on lobe profile as to whether the chamfer would even come into the equation?

Yep Melling is currently showing an uncapped lifter as their JB-951 lifter.

Can look it up here: https://www.melling.com/parts-lookup/

Any insight as to the current SFT. offering from Comp 2900-16 Series... Actual MFG.

Iam trying to find a good EDM solid .. not much out there IN STOCK so might have to go solid face