i am building a 408.  mech. roller cam, vic jr head.  with .080 intake and .115 exaust p/v clearance.  going in the daily driver bronco. am i worried too much about valve clearance or what........

Daily driver with a solid roller! Sorry to say that won't last very long! In my book that is a total no, no. Solid rollers need lots of splash oiling and monstrous valve springs. These huge valve springs are really good at wearing down all the valvetrain components and the low RPM's that a daily driver will see is not exactly conducive to the large amounts of splash oiling needed. How big of a cam did you feel the need to run? And Will this be used as a TRUE daily driver?

May I ask how you checked your piston to valve clearance? If you are really worried about it, read this article before putting the finishing touches on the engine. (sorry I can't post a direct link, but the website doesn't work that way) Go to www.rehermorrison.com and click "tech talk" and search for a topic called "Security Clearance: Measuring Piston-to-Valve Clearance the Right Way"

                 the daily driver in a 70 bronco has 4.88 gears and 33' tires.  runs 3400 rpm @ 65 mph.  which i have been driving for the past 18 years to work. ( my other driver is a 69 el camino.)  the cam is a comp steet roller with 160 pound closed springs.  bought as a k-kit from comp cams. clearance was checked with the clay method and with a dial indicator.  both methods showed the same clearance.

Why did you feel the need to go with a solid roller with a duration as small as 235* @.050? Your piston to valve clearance should be fine, but I would be more worried about the durability of the solid roller driving that ride every day, not to metion I wouldn't like to pay your gas bill!

      i looked up that website you suggested.  lots of good info.  i think im going to go with the clearance i have now.  the specs on the cam are 254 - 260 @ .050 .621 - .627 lift.   it has a 235 duration hyd cam in the 351 that is in it now.  i havent really heard any durability issues with solid lifters,  alot more maint.  for sure.   when my gas bill becomes a problem i'll yank it out and stick it in the falcon.   

Wow, a lot bigger cam than I thought from what you said about the spring pressure. But that does sound pretty health to be getting a mileage that you are gonna be able to live with. And there is a lot of difference in maintenance between a solid flat tappet and a solid roller as well!

small price to pay for horsepower.

good night