The breakthrough of custom billet blocks has opened an opportunity for advanced, if not radical, lifter design from Jesel, which showed off its new cartridge lifter at the PRI Show. Originally designed to complement Mike Moran’s all-billet engine, the new lifter sports a massive 1.220-inch roller and slides inside a bronze bushing designed to support tight clearances and bolts to the block.
“The lifter slides into the bushing from the valley side because the wheel is too big to fit through the top,” says Jesel’s Stevev Kutch. “The assembly is held in place with a stud or bolt.”
The lifter is actually guided by the roller as there’s a slot in the bushing to keep it place.
“The larger wheel slows down the wheel speed,” explains Kutch, noting that the wheel is narrower than traditional roller lifters.”That also reduces surface friction.”
The large wheel allows more cross section between the OD and the ID, which provides additional strength. Another advantage of the larger wheel is a reduction in lifter pressure angle.
“You can get much more aggressive with the camshaft,” adds Kutch.
The applications are limited for this new lifter design. Pro Stock, Pro Mod and some of the high-dollar outlaw match-racing engines can use them. And it’s not just adapting the cartridge lifter to a block. The engine builder will also have to have a custom cam with narrow lobes made to match the roller.