I am about to have my cam and lifters re-worked at Delta Cams and I remember reading about someone shortening their lifters (1725 engine) to reduce their inertia as they slide up and down. I was wondering how much people have taken off the lifters and if someone has weighed them before and after.
Thanks,
Brian
Brian, the lifters are not so heavy compared to other sprung items.
Shortening the lifter only lightens the light end of the lifter, and and significant lightening will significantly shorten the lifter, which IMO will load the lifter more in its bores.
I imagine that mass can be reduced in other areas so much that the small amount that you save on the lifters is not worth the risk.
Items that can reduce the weight considerably:
1) Lighter custom pushrods, Isky used to make them, they are more fragile though.
2) Lightened, polished and shot peened rockers.
3) Titanium keepers with low angle cotters.
4) Valve springs, You only keep half the weight diff here, but I saved a lot of weight using higher rate crane cams springs vs. rootes springs.
5) Tulip stem stainless valves (like cut down datsun Z car valves from ferrea).
My oversized 1.600 inch intakes weighed less than the stock exhaust valve.
Overall, you can lighten the valve train so much, you could use stock spring pressures or even less and STILL be damped at 7500 RPM.
