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Solid Flat Tappet Lifters
Pontiac V8 Solid Flat Tappet Lifters
Full Lift, No Bleed Down — Solid Flat Tappet Lifters for Pontiac V8s
Solid flat tappet lifters are the mechanical lifter for a solid flat tappet Pontiac cam. There is no hydraulic piston to bleed down, so the lifter passes the full cam profile to the pushrod and holds up under spring pressure that would collapse a hydraulic. The trade is that the valvetrain takes a lash setting and has to be checked.
Butler stocks Comp Cams Performance Series solid flat tappet lifters for the Pontiac V8, in a standard version and a version with the EDM oiling hole in the lifter face. Both are .842" diameter parts built for elevated, race-level valve spring pressures.
Flat tappet cams and lifters carry the manufacturer’s warranty only — read the full warranty notice at the bottom of this page before ordering.
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More About Solid Flat Tappet Lifters
1. When a Solid Flat Tappet Is the Right Lifter
This is a deliberate choice, not a default. It belongs on an engine built around a mechanical cam.
| High-end street and race | Comp's Performance Series lifters are built to extreme precision tolerances and are described as a premium lifter designed specifically for high-end street and race applications. |
| Spring pressure | these lifters are designed for elevated, race application valve spring pressures. A hydraulic flat tappet under that kind of spring will pump up or collapse. |
| Rpm range | the lightweight design and premium one-piece pushrod seat provide an extended rpm range, and the precision-ground crown radius and surface finish are there to keep the lifter compatible with an aggressive performance lobe. |
2. Oil Restriction and Longer Pushrods
Butler flags both of these on the product itself, because both catch people out.
| Restriction | Comp states that these lifters require oil restriction. On a Pontiac that means restrictors in the block or restricted pushrods, which Butler stocks from Smith Brothers in .020", .030" and .040". |
| Longer pushrods | the same note says the lifters require longer pushrods. Do not plan to reuse a stock-length rod. Check length with an adjustable pushrod length checker after the heads are on and the lifter is on the base circle. |
| Oil band | the lifters feature a precision-machined and accurately located oil band to yield consistent, properly metered oil flow. That location is what keeps the top end fed once the rest of the circuit is restricted. |
3. The EDM Oiling Hole Version
Butler stocks both, and the difference is one feature.
| What it is | the EDM Injection version has all the same features as the standard Performance Series lifter plus an EDM oiling hole in the face of the lifter, which sends pressurized oil straight at the cam lobe interface. |
| Why you would want it | a flat tappet lobe and lifter face wear against each other. Putting oil directly on that contact patch is cheap insurance on a high-pressure package. |
| Break-in still matters | a flat tappet cam lives or dies in its first twenty minutes. Use a break-in lubricant with a proper zinc and phosphorus package, and always install new lifters with a new cam. |
Tell us the cam part number when you order and we will confirm that the lifter, the spring package and the pushrod restriction all line up before anything ships.
Flat Tappet Cam & Lifter Warranty Notice
Due to so many variable that can affect flat tappet cam and lifter life from break-in and beyond Flat tappet cams are subject to manufacturer’s warranty ONLY. This is due to stringent break-in procedures that must be followed (including removing inner springs for break-in), rocker ratio, the special oils/additives required, lifter bore inconsistencies of size and angle in stock blocks, issues of lifter bore wear and oil bleed off on 40-50 year old Pontiac blocks and so many other variables that can affect cam/lifter life both right from the point of break-in as well as durability after break-in. Keep in mind that just because an engine “ran for 40 years with the stock flat tappet cam and lifters” doesn’t mean that a more aggressive cam that also requires new, stronger springs will have the same life. Or even make it through break in. Block/Lifter bore issues are magnified once you change cams, springs and/or rocker ratio.
If you have an issue with a flat tappet cam/lifters and you believe it’s a warrantable issue then Butler Performance will return the cam to COMP/Lunati/Melling for inspection and any warranty/replacement will be at their discretion. We do not warranty flat tappet cams in any way past the manufacturer’s warranty. We do not warranty any parts damaged by or parts needed to replace a flat tappet cam/lifters including any labor involved.
BUTLER PERFORMANCE HIGHLY RECOMMENDS UPGRADING TO HYDRAULIC ROLLER CAMS.
Not sure what your Pontiac needs?
Email our tech team at tech@butlerperformance.com. Tell us your engine, heads, car, and power goal, and we will put the parts together as one combination that works.