flat tappet cam cores - what's the status in 2021?

[novadude]

As the world moves further away from flat tappets, I am curious as to the current status of flat tappet core availability. Looking to do an old school / budget 396 build, and I am wondering if the quality of current hyd flat tappet cams is anywhere close to what it was 20 years ago. Are domestic manufacturers still making good cores? Any brands to stay away from that might be using inferior cores?

Thanks!

[RW TECH]

As the world moves further away from flat tappets, I am curious as to the current status of flat tappet core availability. Looking to do an old school / budget 396 build, and I am wondering if the quality of current hyd flat tappet cams is anywhere close to what it was 20 years ago. Are domestic manufacturers still making good cores? Any brands to stay away from that might be using inferior cores?

Thanks!

At this point in time I would not pursue a traditional flat tappet camshaft, regardless of whether it's hydraulic or solid.

Worn out tooling, inconsistent core materials, inaccurately machined lifters, and of course the fact that current motor oils are not formulated to deliver long-life performance with sliding interfaces on cams and lifters.

You will be much-much further ahead to go with a hydraulic roller and an appropriate conical or beehive spring and light retainers.

[Walter R. Malik]

As the world moves further away from flat tappets, I am curious as to the current status of flat tappet core availability. Looking to do an old school / budget 396 build, and I am wondering if the quality of current hyd flat tappet cams is anywhere close to what it was 20 years ago. Are domestic manufacturers still making good cores? Any brands to stay away from that might be using inferior cores?

Thanks!

At this point in time I would not pursue a traditional flat tappet camshaft, regardless of whether it's hydraulic or solid.

Worn out tooling, inconsistent core materials, inaccurately machined lifters, and of course the fact that current motor oils are not formulated to deliver long-life performance with sliding interfaces on cams and lifters.

You will be much-much further ahead to go with a hydraulic roller and an appropriate conical or beehive spring and light retainers.

Everyone has their opinion ... and none are should be designated right or wrong.

[CamKing]

Flat tappet core quality is fine, as long as you go with a quality US made core.
Flat tappet cams are not going away, any time soon.
About 70% of all circle track race engines are required to run flat tappet cams, That's still a huge number of cams.
In the last 12 months, flat tappet cams made up 35% of my cam sales.

[Paul Kane]

I just watched one of my cam grinding colleagues fly in a machinery maintenance specialist for a full week who completely re-plumbed, re-valved, fully inspected & serviced one of his Berco cam grinders. That machine should be good for another twenty years, and according to his Cam Doctor was still producing perfect cams prior to its getting serviced. All flat tappet lifter faces are checked with a radius gauge and if any are found out of spec they are reground on the spot. His cam & lifter kits are not cheap but he’s never had a flat cam sent back to him in 25 years. Flat tappet cams are not dead.

Incidentally if you have trouble finding a new core in these pandemic times you might consider regrinding an older cam core (provided the desired profile is close to the used core getting reground). Otherwise, yes, opting for the U.S. sourced materials is indeed much preferred at this time.