Crane, Morel, Comp Hydro rollers
 

Going to be rebuilding my gen IV 454 Mag.
Leaning toward a roller cam and just researching at this point and came across Morel lifters and some are saying there the best choice.
Your thoughts?

Morel's ended up with some possible manufacturing issues..

Check out Johnson lifters... :)

Johnson Lifters Home Page

There are almost as many threads and opinions on this subject as there are on which oil to use. I personally won't use The Morel's anymore. I have had too much trouble with them. The last couple of builds I used the Comp 15854-16 and so far, so good. My personal favorite is a gen6 block with the factory GM roller lifter as long as you aren't aver around .630 lift.

I was recommended Johnson Lifters from Eddie Young and that is what I put in my new 625EFI's.

I used Morel's for probably 15 years and loved them. They were absolutely fantastic......until about 2 years ago. Something changed. We ended up having to change out (on my dime) 8 sets of Morel's. We've since went to Johnson's and have had no issues what so ever. So far, I'm extremely pleased with them. If you do some searching on the Morel's, posts prior to about 2 years ago will be favorable. All of the issues started around that time so the negative posts will all be recent.
Eddie

Funny I was talking with a engine builder yesterday and he said the same. Had to rebuild a couple because the Morel's failed.

Doesn't take to many of those to change your mind.

Oh heard something else that was interesting, how many hours do you think you could go on a solid roller motor before you check clearance. I know how aggressive the cam/ spring rates makes a huge difference but what was said had me laughing. So much miss information its hard to wade through to the good info.

i also have been using and so far had no issues with the comp 15854-16 hyd lifters,out of 10 sets of morel,s i had 3 failures,i won,t use them anymore.

i thought the stock gm dog bones tapped out around .580? - block variations pending

I have ran them up to .637 lift with no issues, but I am not sure how good of an idea it is. I believe that it is more of a spring pressure issue than a lift issue. From the cam manufactures that I have talked to about them, they don't recommend over about 500# on them. I put over 200 hrs on a set personally with no issues at .625 lift, sold the boat and it is still running strong

I agree. I was the poster boy for Morel for a long time but having to send back more than a few sets in the last year or two have turned me totally off them. My understanding is the Comps are now Johnson but I am not 100% sure of that. Crane also seems to be fine.

Keep your fingers crossed, I am just about ready to start the Olds engine in my Wife's car after doing it and the trans. Morel was the only Hydraulic roller I could find so thats what is in it. If they make noise there will likely be a lot of noise from Southern Maryland :)

Lunati?
They list a street version they say is "Manufactured for reliability and durability for engines with a maximum operating range of 6200-6500 RPM
vs there High RPM version "developed to handle applications producing over that volatile 6500 RPM point".
Being I'm barely spinning over 5000??

does it make much of a difference over having the exposed wheel vs the shrouded wheel?

I did talk to Lunati today and they say the street rollers would be fine for my application.
He also said they are Morel lifters. I may just run a flat tappet.
Was thinking Voodoo Retro-Fit Hydraulic Roller Cam & Lifter Kit - Chevrolet Big Block 272/280 - Lunati Power

It's entirely up to you , but I WILL NOT run a flat tappet in anything anymore. There is just too many potential issues with them....proper break in, lack of zinc and phosphorous, etc. You could break them in absolutely 100% perfectly and still lose a lobe. As as engine builder, it's not worth it to me. If it loses a lobe, the entire engine needs to come down. I can't take that chance. There's a reason that there are no longer any engines built with a flat tappet, and haven't been for MANY years.
Eddie

This is just my experience with Lunati/Morel. Dynoed first engine and inspecting afterwards had 4 collapsed lifters. Put johnsons in it and have 80+ trouble free hours. Lunati couldn"t have cared less.

PPlay33, was this a recent experience?
are you still running the lunati cam with the Johnson Lifters?

Anyone have experience with the Comp or Howard's street rollers?

After tearing this engine down and finding one lifter starting to mushroom I agree and are going hydraulic but, I read about a lot of roller failures as well.
One thing I do find is that most of the threads are old. Have things got better with manufacturers?
Then there's the cam button deal. Not thrilled. My block have the holes for the thrust plate. Should I use the gen 6 cam?