Do I have Roller or Flat tappet

[TJ1978]

Is there a way to tell what I have going on in this engine without pulling it apart?
It's "hencho en mexico" 350
I know this picture isn't much but a better trained eye can see something. This is an early picture, it's already back together

 

[nvrenuf]

That should be a flat tappet set up. I’m out of practice on SBC’s but I believe there should be a spider web like thing to keep the straight or at least links joining the lifters in pairs to keep them straight.

 

[frankin5]

Flat as there is no raised tapped bosses for the spider retainer.

 

[TJ1978]

Ok thanks. Since the engine sat for so long and now has about 130 miles on it, I'm going to change the oil to zinc oil. I have an extra 5qts so I'm going to use that.

I do have some race zinc oil in 10w-30 that I got by mistake, does that do anything ?

 

[ktmoutfront]

Flat tappet for sure. The zink oil should have been it it for cam break in. Not needed after that.

 

[82355]

Flat tappet. There needs to be something to retain the lifters from turning on a roller cam. There is nothing there. A flat tappet cam is the opposite, it needs the lifters to always be spinning.

Martin

 

[SnackPack]

Example of roller lifter retention:

 

[82355]

Yep, that is the factory style.

Martin

 

[82355]

Here is a good (quick Google Image search) picture to show the two different types of roller rocker retention. The lifter and link plate on the left are the factory style. They require the “spider” to hold the link bars in place.

The two lifters with the link plate pinned to the side of them are the aftermarket style, for retrofitting non roller blocks.

You have a non roller block, so you would have to use the retrofit style if you wanted to upgrade to a roller cam.



Martin

 

[TJ1978]

Shorter push rods I assume? Once this engine poops out I will consider switching over to roller. But until then this will suffice.

 

[Wes Harden]

10w30 is fine for a new engine. I still use high zinc oil in my flat tappet engines, some do some don't.

 

[TJ1978]

Why not 20w-50 or 10w-40 for here in Arizona with an unknown mileage flat tappet?
@Wes Harden

 

[HankScorpio]

20w-50 is probably a bit much but I do run 10w-40 in the summer on my 350's.

 

[TJ1978]

I have a jug of 10w-30 Lucas high zinc and some VR1 race 10w-30 high zinc.
I'm changing the oil this week. Once it heats up I may swap to the 10w-40 for summer time.

I know the race oil isn't meant for long intervals between changes but it's been in my garage for years and I want it out. So I may use that up run some miles swap to 10w-30 or 40 depend on heat out here.

Probably overkill, but I'm tired of that VR1 just sitting out there.

 

[82355]

Throw it in there.

Martin

 

[Wes Harden]

running 0w20 in the JDM summer winter don't matter, same, if not hotter AZ summer.