Lunati Retrofit Hydraulic Roller

Cuprum-74 said:

Again LA blocks had factory roller lifters from the late 80's to 91/92.

No retrofit kit needed. All I needed was the hyd. roller cam itself. The block already had roller lifters from the factory.
Here is what I used: Voodoo Retro-Fit Hydraulic Roller Cam - Chrysler 273-360 270/279 (No lifter kit needed)

But now I want this: Voodoo Retro-Fit Hydraulic Roller Cam - Chrysler 273-360 282/290

Or maybe: Hughes Engines

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So you used factory Hyd rollers.
It is the aftermarket Hyd rollers that I and others are having issues with like the Comp cam Hyd rollers that bleed of very quickly causing excessive clatter on startup.

aftermarket retrofit kits are all Johnson AFIK
setup springs and cam make a big difference
with most shorter cams you do not get any more action from a HR than a .904 hyd much less a FTSOLID
you have to use an inverse radius on the flank
but of course there's the lube problem

Wyrmrider said:

aftermarket retrofit kits are all Johnson AFIK
setup springs and cam make a big difference
with most shorter cams you do not get any more action from a HR than a .904 hyd much less a FTSOLID
you have to use an inverse radius on the flank
but of course there's the lube problem

Click to expand...

Well I am not sure who is making all the aftermarket hyd roller lifters but they sure are getting a bad reputation. As for myself I am done with hydraulic lifters.
I have been adjusting valves for 45 years why stop now, when I get too old I'll just pay someone to do it. LOL

512Stroker said:

Well I am not sure who is making all the aftermarket hyd roller lifters but they sure are getting a bad reputation. As for myself I am done with hydraulic lifters.
I have been adjusting valves for 45 years why stop now, when I get too old I'll just pay someone to do it. LOL

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And this is why I HATE hydraulic anything. You CANNOT trust it to do its job. Even I fell into the trap of having your cake and eating it too with hydraulics. Guess what? They don't really work for the type of people like us that come to forums like these expect or deserve. J.Rob

Cuprum-74 said:

I know this an older thread but I'll input my 3 year of experience with this exact cam, I didn't need a retrofit kit as my LA 360 was already a roller from factory. This is a very good cam, I've had little to no issues with it. Awesome mid-range. Great street cam, although a bit on the mild side.
I still use a mechanical fuel pump so no I did not have an issue with snout length. But again I just bought the cam itself, used the stock roller lifters and a Cloyes Double roller timing chain. As well as upgraded the valve springs, rockers etc.
I'm really thinking about bumping up to this cam: 20200712 Voodoo Retro-Fit Hydraulic Roller Cam - Chrysler 273-360 282/290
Which is what I should've done in the first place, especially with 9.7 compression.

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I am trying to do some research
What year is your LA 360 block?

512Stroker said:

I am trying to do some research
What year is your LA 360 block?

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My blocks date stamp was 08/90. So maybe for an early 91 model.
5.9 (360) Magnums came out in the 1993 models I believe.
The LA roller and Magnums use pretty much the same roller lifters.
The setup is exactly like this:
With these "dog bone brackets".


Yeah, Chrysler sure knew what they were doing when they designed and built these. I've had little to no problems with these stock roller lifters and they're actually pretty quiet.
*I lucked out with mine*, so I didn't need the hydraulic roller retrofit kit. And from what you folks are describing, not a good investment.

*7 years ago, I got the motor from a 56K mile 1991 Ramcharger that sadly was at a recycling center. After 20 minutes talking to the manager. I was able to get the whole Ramcharger for $500 with a salvaged title. The motor was clean, and smooth running so I kept it.
The PO who was a college student burned out the transmission because after his grandfather gave it to him he never checked the transmission fluid and didn't want or know how to get it fixed. So he salvaged it.
The rest of the truck I gave to a young girl who's Ramcharger was in rough shape but was willing to fix hers up.
After hearing her (she was 19) talk about the ramcharger and her knowledge of them, made me happy there is hope with some of these millenials.

Cuprum-74 said:

My blocks date stamp was 08/90. So maybe for an early 91 model.
5.9 (360) Magnums came out in the 1993 models I believe.
The LA roller and Magnums use pretty much the same roller lifters.
The setup is exactly like this:
With these "dog bone brackets".
View attachment 1715413146
View attachment 1715413157
Yeah, Chrysler sure knew what they were doing when they designed and built these. I've had little to no problems with these stock roller lifters and they're actually pretty quiet.
*I lucked out with mine*, so I didn't need the hydraulic roller retrofit kit. And from what you folks are describing, not a good investment.

*7 years ago, I got the motor from a 56K mile 1991 Ramcharger that sadly was at a recycling center. After 20 minutes talking to the manager. I was able to get the whole Ramcharger for $500 with a salvaged title. The motor was clean, and smooth running so I kept it.
The PO who was a college student burned out the transmission because after his grandfather gave it to him he never checked the transmission fluid and didn't want or know how to get it fixed. So he salvaged it.
The rest of the truck I gave to a young girl who's Ramcharger was in rough shape but was willing to fix hers up.
After hearing her (she was 19) talk about the ramcharger and her knowledge of them, made me happy there is hope with some of these millenials.

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Know I understand
That is a far nicer setup that the retrofit rollers.
Great info - Thanks

WE have had good luck with the factory lifters
I talk most out of retrofit hyd conversions
not much bang for the buck
if you are thinking cam put all the details and a compression check in ONE POST
flow estimates, valve work. gears, converter, headers, pipes , intake etc
but most of all usage and where you want the torque peak

Does anyone make a solid version of the factory style roller lifter?
How far can the factory hydraulic roller be taken? At what point does it not make sense to try factory-style anymore?

Phreakish said:

Does anyone make a solid version of the factory style roller lifter?
How far can the factory hydraulic roller be taken? At what point does it not make sense to try factory-style anymore?

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I've run the factory dog-bone style roller to .638" and 6700 rpm in a 365 that makes about 500 hp. As far as I know it is still going. Keep in mind though that was 2011 and I have had hydraulic lifter problems ( across all brands ) since about 2013. J.Rob

@RAMM By chance, have you weighed any of these lifters?