KB Solid roller lifter oiling

I have a KB block with solid roller lifters/cam. I have heard that at prolonged idle situations the lifters/cam will fail due to insufficient oiling due to the lack of splash. As this is in a street rod application I'm concerned. The lifters are 1" full solid body type.
Could someone please help clear this up.

Engine is not assembled yet so I can still make alterations to overcome any potential problems.

 

Thats a problem with every solid roller lifter motor.I had wiped out a few BBC cams due to running the oil level lower than the crank and having a crank scraper.Once I added more oil ,removed the scraper and put pressurized Crower solid roller lifters in it, the problems went away. I think you'll be fine if you have pressurized needle bearing lifters.

 

The catch is with the 1" diameter lifter size I dont think they are even available with an oiled lifter design. I checked with a few manufacturers and they are all solid body.

In an absolute worst case scenario I'll have to get the block lifter bores sleeved down to 0.903" and then I can purchase the usual mopar lifters. This however raises a new problem......My engine builder told me that fitting lifter bore sleeves in an alloy block is to be avoided.
He told me the block can expand at a higher rate and that the bronze lifter sleeves can come loose causing lots of problems.

 

I would think if you run the oil level high, 8- 10 quarts ,and no windage tray,you should be okay,but maybe someone thats done it with those lifters can chime in.

 

I read an article some time ago about one of the major cam companies doing some research and getting the solid rollers to live in a street machine. I don't recall the specifics of the what they did or even the company, but I do recall that the reason for failure was a lack of oil. If I remember correctly they were slotting the lifter bore (had some sort of special tool) to supply more oil to the lifter bore and down to the cam. You may want to call some cam manufactures and see what they recommend. A broken lifter will wreck your entire engine, especially if those little needles get everywhere and you don't catch it right away. Good luck.

 

You can buy fab'ed valve covers with oilers inside the cover. Some of the KB blocks have a pipe port at the rear cam bearing you can use to connect to the covers and oil the lifters as well as the rockers. Just two extra lines to mess with when you pull the covers.
Good Luck!

 

Moore,
can you suggest where to get those fab valve covers from?

 

valve covers

Williams / Billet Fab.

 

Williams

Ask for Mickey 951 254-7144

 

Lifter tool

Comp cam makes this tool I used it on a Blown sbc with 904 lifters, never had a problem the block was a Iron Eagle Dart block. It was a easy mod done at home took about 30 min on a steel block. TJ

 

Oiling valve covers

BigB -- Call Art @ 620-662-4332, he can engrave & paint them as well. Good guy to work with.