Flat Tappets & their lube

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gagembassett

gagembassett

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Alright so here's something I would like to ask everyone's opinion on. What do you recommend or use for your flat tapper break-in lube? I have just used Lubriplate No. 105 assembly grease with prior builds but those were mild to mildly hot or they were a roller cam. Now I'm currently doing a well-built turbo 360 for my father & want to make sure it's done overly correct. I had Jim at Racer Brown custom grind a solid flat tappet for me & I want to know more knowledgeable input so the cam breaks in properly with no risk of damage.
 
Call Jim at racer brown and tell him to sell you whatever assembly lube he wants on his cam. No other response is important. And stop putting assembly lube on roller cam lobes. It’s unnecessary and just dirtys the oil. Use it on cam bearings only.
 
I use Rotella T1 Diesel straight 30 weight.
I have not wiped a flat tappet in my race car.
Just my experience.
 
Call Summit and get Torco assembly lube. I like what Jim sends out but it’s not formulated like the Torco cam lube is.

Or…send me your address and I’ll send you more than enough to lube your cam.

Once you use Torco you don’t go back.
 
what Racer Brown sends you just in a larger tube.

IMG_2781.jpg
 

Newbomb Turk said:
Call Summit and get Torco assembly lube. I like what Jim sends out but it’s not formulated like the Torco cam lube is.

Or…send me your address and I’ll send you more than enough to lube your cam.

Once you use Torco you don’t go back.
Click to expand...
I do like the torco stuff, but if there is a problem the first thing the cam manufacturer will say is “what lube did you use?” If he uses what Jim recommends there can be no argument. Except maybe the practices used for said breakin.
 
TT5.9mag said:
I do like the torco stuff, but if there is a problem the first thing the cam manufacturer will say is “what lube did you use?” If he uses what Jim recommends there can be no argument. Except maybe the practices used for said breakin.
Click to expand...

I will say that I used to say I never had a bad cam get a warranty.

But a couple of years ago I had a Comp cam go bad on the pump.

They warrantied it and they never even asked what we used for cam lube.

But I did prove the lifters were straight garbage when I pulled it down so maybe that’s why they didn’t ask. The surviving lifters had almost no radius. I sent that junk back and one day a cam shows up and I’m thinking WTF??? I didn’t buy a cam.

They replaced it.
 
On the last two flat tappet cams I used Driven assembly grease on one and Isky Rev-Lube on the other. Both went well. I like to use something that doesn't run off because they usually aren't started right away.
 
gagembassett said:
Alright so here's something I would like to ask everyone's opinion on. What do you recommend or use for your flat tapper break-in lube? I have just used Lubriplate No. 105 assembly grease with prior builds but those were mild to mildly hot or they were a roller cam. Now I'm currently doing a well-built turbo 360 for my father & want to make sure it's done overly correct. I had Jim at Racer Brown custom grind a solid flat tappet for me & I want to know more knowledgeable input so the cam breaks in properly with no risk of damage.
Click to expand...
The stuff the cam manufacturer sends with the cam.

I use permatex ultra slick and/or the cam lube sent in the box.
Schneider's has a good cam snot
 
I used Permatex ultra slick on the lifter bores and bodies and ZDDP paste on the lobes and lifter faces on my Ford 400 this time. I had @NC Engine Builder Sean reface a new set of lifters to make sure they had the right finish. Yall pray for me. It's gettin close to firin back off.
 
RustyRatRod said:
Yeah I hear he knows all about lube.
Click to expand...

Yup, I’m a lube-ologist.

The best thing about the Torco lube is it doesnt end up in the bottom of the pan and it blends with the break in oil.

Most of the other cam lubes aren’t oil soluble.
 
and to think I broke in cams years ago with wheel bearing grease. lol
All these modern specialty lubes and guys are still flattening lobes.
I'm still waiting for my first. lol
Use the goop that comes with the cam and VR1 oil, oh and watch the spring pressure, that's a killer.
 
If it's going to sit for a bit before firing up, I'd recommend Driven assembly gel. It's thicker and sticker than anything else I've had my hands on. It won't run off anything you put it on like others.

Interesting comparison of several on the market:


1757367494132.png
 
mopowers said:
If it's going to sit for a bit before firing up, I'd recommend Driven assembly gel. It's thicker and sticker than anything else I've had my hands on. It won't run off anything you put it on like others.

Interesting comparison of several on the market:


View attachment 1716452341
Click to expand...



I’d have to make a phone call, but at one time like the early 2000’s Torco was doing a private label deal with Permatex and that bottle you have looks like Torco assembly lube.

Since it’s been 20 plus years Permatex may have found a different supplier.
 
Newbomb Turk said:
I will say that I used to say I never had a bad cam get a warranty.

But a couple of years ago I had a Comp cam go bad on the pump.

They warrantied it and they never even asked what we used for cam lube.

But I did prove the lifters were straight garbage when I pulled it down so maybe that’s why they didn’t ask. The surviving lifters had almost no radius. I sent that junk back and one day a cam shows up and I’m thinking WTF??? I didn’t buy a cam.

They replaced it.
Click to expand...
Because i heard this enough times, i just got a tube for a 340 i putting together. I used Torco for years on my dirt bikes, but it seems like there are so many oil companies anymore, dont which way to go.
 
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