i am building a 68 390fe in school and i am thinking about Rhodes lifters; has anyone used them? and how did it turn out?

i had a set of rhodes lifters once, they worked fine but if i was going to have the click - click i was going to have a solid lifter cam so i took them out.

They work fine but make significant amounts of noise. They did seem to tame the large cam I was running in the "mousey" engine.

I would consider switching to solid lifters; they are a drop-in mod, all you need is adjustable rockers.

Steve

-1965 Custom, police 390/4v/4speed/engine still out
-1962 Galaxie 500 Town sedan, FE/8v/C6/runnin' good
-1995 Camaro Z-28, LT1/auto/stock/T-roof/pimp
-1976 Camaro, 383/4speed/full road race/almost done!
-1979 T-A/403/auto/hood bird/disco
-1989 Pathfinder 4x4/lift/TSL 33s/rusty
-1992 Celica GT/header/stereo/turd
-2002 VTX1800R/paint/pipes/program
-1975 CB550F/stock/garage queen

I've run them without adjustable rockers, and with adjustable rocker arms, and they definitely need adjustable rocker system to work their best. Run the adjustment down 1/2 to 3/4 turn, and enjoy. They will tame a cam considerably at idle. Joe-JDC.

It makes your engine sound like it lost oil pressure. If you pull up at a car show everybody looks at you like your head is half its normal size. Don't make enough difference to be worth the annoying sound.



1912 Model T Ford touring Salmon (ugh!)
1913 Model T Ford Touring original Black paint
1915 Model T Ford Roadster Black
1915 Model T Ford touring Black of course!
1967 Cougar GT 390 Cardinal Red / Black
1968 Cougar GTE 427 Augusta Green / Saddle
http://www.supermotors.net/vehicles/registry/15029/50071-2

They work very well and do exactly what Rhoads claims, but DAMN they are loud and noisy. Louder than a solid cam. It is kinda neat to hear how the idle changes from raspy when the oil is cold and the lifters don't bleed at all, and they are also quiet, to smooth as silk when warm warm, but very noisy. If you can live with very noisy, they work well. Did I mention that they are NOISY ??! I wonder if anyone else makes a lifter that does the same job with less sound ? Cal

They do exactly what is claimed. They allow you to run more cam than you should on the street and still get the top end charge that you were looking for. If you are also running power steering, it could mean the difference between needing an accumulator (vaccum can) or not. At idle, they do have a noticable mechanical sound from under the hood ... it goes away around 2000 to 2500 and its all sweet songs after that. Once the lifters are right, you get full cam profile.

As mentioned, you will need an adjustable valve train (rocker arms), just as you would need with solids. In my case, I prefer them over solids as I don't need to adjust them as often. I have always been amused with other lifer vendors (Crane, Comp Cams - etc) for years they claimed that Rhodes lifters didn't work - truth was they do work...they were just P.O.ed that his patent was unbreakable. Once they found a way to work around his patent, they changed their tune and started saying they do work - but would destroy your cam. Again they lied. I have run them on engines that run 10's of thousands of street miles, rebuilt the engine and put the same cam, same lifters in the next build and run them some more. I'm not saying they are perfect - nothing is perfect for everyone, one size does not fit all; but if you know what you want, and don't want to be told you can't have your cake and eat it to - give them a try! 

in my 428 when I bought it. They are terribly noisey. Yes people will ask " whats wrong with that thing"? It does sound like a low oil pressure problem. They did give a little more vaccum @ idle, but not worth the noise to me... I took them out and put regular lifters in.

69 428CJ Mach 1

time. He intalled Rhodes in a 429CJ Mud Truck and promptly had them spit out all over on initial start up. I don't know if he screwed installation or what but I can imagine that lash caps might not be the hot-setup

One of the biggest problems with specialty parts are guys that want the "hot setup" but won't take the time to really think it through or listen when you make a reccomendation - about the value of a part on "his setup".

I don't know how many guys I've had to argue with over the years that wanted to install a particular part because a 'friend' told them it was the way to go -without ever thinking about all the other stuff that goes with it. Sure you can put that Big cam in the engine with stock heads, stock bottom end and cast pistons, yes - it will sound 'wicked', ..... No - I would not suggest putting it in now, then put the 4:1 gears, 4 barrel and manifold and headers on next year. I guess what they say "all money ... ain't good money" is true when building an engine for a guy that won't listen.