[daryl_keys]

I am spec'ing out a build for the near future. 455 @ ~ 10.25:1 w/ Crower 60919 cam. Planning on using the Rhoads V-Max Lifters w/ HS 1.65:1 rollers

Looks like the price increase for the Superlube version is ~$100. Does anyone have any experience with these? Is it worth the extra $$?

Also, is the Crower 68405 the appropriate spring to use with this combo? The Crower site states that the 68404 are not long enough. I reached out to them a couple months ago with a request to confirm which spring to use and they have not yet responded. Stainless valves to be purchased after I understand which spring and installed height I need.

If anyone has any experience that can help with those questions, please let me know.

Thank you,
Daryl Keys

[steve25]

First off I need to ask what heads you have because my Crystal ball is In the shop for a tune up & oil change today, lol!

[daryl_keys]

Sorry, heads are 6X-4 opened up to 1.77. Bronze liners, positive seals. Eventually ported.

[steve25]

Thanks for the info!
With your 6X heads the stock valve length is 4.980”, and the stock spring installed height is between 1.560” and 1.580”.

Are your new valves 4.980” long which is for the low comp heads like yours, or do you have the next length up at 5.095” or so which are stock length for the high comp heads?

The Crower 405 springs are calling for a 1.700” installed height, so they will not be a simple drop in with stock 4.980” length valves.

If you want to say with Crower parts then you need there 68407 springs and there 87048 retainers .

If you have the 5.095” longer then stock valves then the 405 spring is pretty much a drop in!

All this info is just in terms of the heads, so now on to your Cam pick .

The 407 spring is only good to .450” lift and that cam with just 1.5 rockers has .470” lift!

Now add 1.65 rockers and your up at .516” lift!

The 405 spring is good up to .600”, so that’s the way to go, but that then commits you to either running the 5.095” long valves or machining the spring pockets to get that 1.700” installed height.

In terms of lifters and the open spring pressures you will be running with that cam and 1.65 rockers I would opt for the superlube ones!

[Jay S]

I just went and looked it up on the Rhoads site and the superlube option is still $29. Don’t know who is charging $100, summit? Jegs is usually much cheaper for Rhoads.

The 60919 I did a while back has 30,000 miles on it now, v max super lubes. I try to get the super lubes if possible.

[daryl_keys]

Originally Posted by steve25

Thanks for the info!
With your 6X heads the stock valve length is 4.980”, and the stock spring installed height is between 1.560” and 1.580”.

Are your new valves 4.980” long which is for the low comp heads like yours, or do you have the next length up at 5.095” or so which are stock length for the high comp heads?

The Crower 405 springs are calling for a 1.700” installed height, so they will not work with stock 4.980” length valves.

If you want to say with Crower parts then you need there 68407 springs and there 87048 retainers .

If you have the 5.095” longer then stock valves then the 405 spring is pretty much a drop in!

I don't have the valves yet. Figured I'd look at my options of valve length/coil spring installed height, to see what the best combination of valve length and spring seat cut/shim would be best.

Sounds like the 5.095" valves are the way to go along with the 68405. If I'm reading your comments correctly, that means no spring pad cut and no offset retainers. Can you however confirm the Crower retainer p/n for this setup?

[daryl_keys]

Originally Posted by Jay S

I just went and looked it up on the Rhoads site and the superlube option is still $29. Don’t know who is charging $100, summit? Jegs is usually much cheaper for Rhoads.

The 60919 I did a while back has 30,000 miles on it now, v max super lubes. I try to get the super lubes if possible.

Yeah, both Summit and Jegs have a ~$100 increase.

Summit 9518X - $190.99
Summit 9518XL - $298.99

Jegs 9518X - $192.99
Jegs 9518XL - $300.99


Wasn't aware I could buy direct from Rhoads. I do see as you mention that they are only charging a $29 premium. Thank you for the input!!!

[steve25]

The needed Crower retainer for the 405 spring is 87048D, yes D , no type o!

[daryl_keys]

Originally Posted by steve25

The needed Crower retainer for the 405 spring is 87048D, yes D , no type o!

Well, I guess I'll just go one more question and ask which part number locks to round out the setup.

Thank you so much for the direction.

[Formulajones]

When doing flat tappet cams, anymore I go straight for a lifter that puts lube directly on the cam lobes. Doesn't matter if it's hydraulic or flat tappet. My opinion, it's well worth the extra dough on any build with a flat tappet to put pressurized oil right on the face of a high contact, high load area.

[1968GTO421]

My thanks to the OP and all who responded here as all the info is very applicable to my build with a Voodoo cam and HS rockers

[Formulajones]

Just to add, when I did the solid flat tappet in my wife's daily driver, I used a comp solid lifter with this mod, they called an EDM hole, that shoots pressurized oil from the face of the lifters onto the cam lobes.

At the time, 5 years ago now, this was an additional $150. I imagine it might be a little more involved doing this on a solid lifter vs a hydraulic hence the price difference, but that's just a guess. Either way worth the money spent.

It's been going almost 50,000 miles so far and I routinely check the lash. It's never budged. I also had the cam nitrided for extra precaution.

[Holeshot71]

Originally Posted by steve25

The needed Crower retainer for the 405 spring is 87048D, yes D , no type o!

I’m not so sure those are the retainers you want to use. Those are deep dish retainers and you will most likely have rocker to retainer clearance issues. The 68404 springs will work for what you’re doing along with stock length valves. If you have the stock retainers you can use them by cutting approx .100~.125 off of the bottom for clearance.

[steve25]

Holeshot71, if I am wrong about that retainer part number then my Crower catalog is wrong.

[1968GTO421]

FWIW, the Crower on-line catalog lists the 405 spring as using a 87048 retainer without the D, Apparently they changed some things around just a tad. Has Holeshot71 actually used these 87048 retainers and discovered the rocker arm problem?

[Tom Vaught]

Originally Posted by Formulajones

When doing flat tappet cams, anymore I go straight for a lifter that puts lube directly on the cam lobes. Doesn't matter if it's hydraulic or flat tappet. My opinion, it's well worth the extra dough on any build with a flat tappet to put pressurized oil right on the face of a high contact, high load area.

X2. I will be using the Rhodes V Max Super Lube lifters in my 462 engine.
1st Hydraulic Lifter camshaft for me, (HO Racing grind) in 50+ years.

Tom V.

[steve25]

I am working from paper Crower catalog, not a on line listing so if it’s wrong I am sorry , but that’s what it says.

[Holeshot71]

Originally Posted by 1968GTO421

FWIW, the Crower on-line catalog lists the 405 spring as using a 87048 retainer without the D, Apparently they changed some things around just a tad. Has Holeshot71 actually used these 87048 retainers and discovered the rocker arm problem?

Yes, it was years ago and don’t remember all the details. I had ordered crower 68404 springs, retainers, cam etc. and ended up with the 87048D retainers so they must have bee listing those back then. I called crower and they sent a different set of retainers. I can’t remember the part number. It could have been the same number without the D.

Thinking about it now, that was just a basic valve job with stock valves. I wonder if the stock valves have a different (shorter) height between the keeper groove and the top of the valve vs aftermarket stainless steel valves?