Not that I like the idea of guys having problems like this but I have to chuckle to myself. I lived through exactly the thoughts and experience you are discussing here.
I had wanted a roller to begin with and let an engine builder talk me out of it
"The Builder" reasoned all the same things ... Cost ... Flat tappet (will do just fine) ... Not building a full out race motor ... etc ... etc.
Anyway, I put $2,700.00 into that build doing it "his way" and it went through two flat tappet cams and a set of Comp Cam Magnum roller "TIP" rockers (I let him talk me out of true Roller Rockers as well)
In the final analisis after two years of chasing this piece of $hit build around my garage ... I labled it a total $2,700.00 loss and built the next one 100% myself, with some internet buddies I met. I refused to let anyone talk me out of anything ... I just researched things until I could comfirm in my own mind what was the "Right" thing to do.
Estimates on this engine are 537 HP @ 6,500 and 479 Ft Lb @ 5,000 RPM ... It has given me zero $hit in the year and a half since completion ... runs strong and smooth ... and is a ton of fun (primarily because I don't have to be "pissing" around with it all the time ... it just runs) And as a side note ... It was the very first engine I ever built.
Moral to the story is ... I made a concious decision way back then that, "I will never build a motor that isn't Full Roller."
_________________
Larry Madsen
Las Vegas Nevada
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: monstermach on 1/16/02 7:10am ]</font>
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: monstermach on 1/16/02 7:13am ]</font>