Shubeck lifters???

I exchanged voicemail with the IHRA tech director today regarding allowable changes to stock eliminator cams. He said they allow the use of Shubeck lifters with hydraulic cams. Being too embarrased to ask if I can find these in the parts store next to the Johnson rod bin, I've come to the trusty resources on the V8 Buick website to see if anybody knows what Shubeck lifters are. Might they be the same as Rhoades lifters?

 

I don't have detailed info. but they are quite different from any other lifter. I read an article about it awhile back. The lifters have a special coating or are a special material that resists friction. I've heard that you DON'T even have to break in your cam when new!!

OK that's it, I don't have anything else...next.

 

Here's the website:
Schubeck Racing

 

Well...I can give a little bit of first hand info on the Schubeck solid lifters.

Back when I was at the machine shop, we used those lifters and a specially coated camshaft(basically a dry film lubricant type coating) in a Late Model circle track engine. Yeah...it was a 358 Chevy. In this particular instance, that's a good thing! Reason being, this engine routinely revved about 2000 rpm more than MOST of us would even think about!

It is true, you don't have to 'break in the cam' like you would with conventional lifters! That in itself, is certainly worth something!

Probably the first thing you notice when you hold one of the Schubeck lifters in your hand - they hardly weigh anything!! I took a regular solid lifter and one of those to the digital scale - UNBELIEVEABLE!! They were HALF the weight of the regular solid lifter (50g compared to 100g)!!!

Another benefit, is that you can run stiffer springs - even though you don't HAVE to (because of the light weight). This way, you can really let the engine SCREAM!!!

When I first heard they DO NOT WEAR OUT, I figured - OK, I'll believe it when I see it! Well...I got the chance! The engine cam back into the shop for different heads later in the year and I got to take a look at the cam and lifters - WOW!!! You'd have sworn they were brand new!!!

Definitely well worth the money! That brings up their one NEGATIVE - the price!!! Hope you're sitting down when you see the price tag!!! If I remember correctly, the flat tappets were about $600 and the Radius lifters were closer to $950-$1000!!! OUCH!!!!

But....since they don't wear out AND you can reuse them again - they almost have to be something some of the more SERIOUS 'players' should consider!! Shoot...you don't have to even keep them in order, when you disassemble the engine!!

Hope that gives a little more insight into them!:TU:

 

Shubeck lifters

Thanks Scott.

I guess my first reaction is cool, considering the amount of mechanical inefficiency inherent in hydraulic lifter cams. My next reaction is, YIKES!. But as you say, if you're going to compete in divisional and national races, the serious guys are finding 1-2 extra horsepower anyway they can. I love the smell of cubic dollars in the morning.

I guess bracket racing isn't so bad after all.

Mark

 

Jim Burek gave me a nice breakdown on the lifter you may want to contact him. He is also a vendor for them.

 

Thanks Phil, will do.

 

While the price of the Schubeck lifters may be a little high, consider the costs of an engine teardown after a cam goes flat. If you've ever had to do that even once, the cost of the schubecks begins to look like a bargain.
And with the ever increasing concern over the hard to get hydraulic lifters these days that everyone is complaining about, the schubecks look even better.
Once you have them , you can try different cams very aesily, don't have to worry about cam break in and you can and will make more horespower with them.
It's a one time cost, that's it. Jim Burek P.A.E. ENTERPRISES

 

Schubek lifters

I don't have a sound argument against your logic. The ounce of prevention is certainly worth the pound of cure.

My application is 1964 and 1965 250hp 300 engines that would be used in IHRA and NHRA stock eliminator. As you know, the rules do not allow swapping solid lifter cams into OEM-equipped hydraulic lifter engines. With max. lift of .401" any loss of lift is substantial

I haven't measured the 300 lifters to determine if the SBC lifter can be used. If the SBCs are substantially different then there's no decision to be made.

Thanks for your input. Always valuable to learn from the vets.

Mark

 

Re: Schubek lifters

The schubecks are available in hydraulic as well as solid. Jim Burek

 

Any chance they would fit our beloved 401-425 Nailheads. o No: What pushrods would be required? Very interesting.:TU:

 

They would fit the nailheads as well. I'd have to see if the pushrod length is the same, I think it would be. Jim Burek

 

This sure is an interesting post!

I wonder how a hyd. lifter can be made to "Never" wear out, though??

 

Very proprietary materials. Very hard stuff. Jim Burek

 

Jim - What's the going rate for their lifters these days?

If these guys could keep the price down to a 'reasonable' level - they'd have the market cornered(compared to the last figures I saw)!!

 

Scott , the hydraulics are $780 a set, the price comes down with more sets bought, say as in a group buy.
Jim Burek

 

Thanks Jim!:TU:

 

J. A. Sherman also make a nice set of lifters. They also make hydraulic lifters that have very little hydraulic. We run these in our race Buick. We have over 350 runs on them with no problem. These run about $250 a set. Check them out at the site listed below.

http://hometown.aol.com/jallensherman/indexhtmlwwwShermanRacingProduc.html

 

Hey Isaac , Are you allowed adjustable pushrods for the buick in stock eliminator. Thats one real nice car you have. I saw it at the divisional at etown last year. Chris

 

How quiet are the Sherman and Shubeck hyd lifters?

Bruce