I have a 400 with a cam of 214/224 duration and 112 lobe separation, I am wondering if any one knows what would happen with Rhoads lifters?
Would this "change" the amount of separation at an idle to sound like a more aggressive cam? Would I be better off with say a cam with 205/215 108 or 110 separation? I am running a 4-speed with a 3.55 axle ratio. I also think that I am running approx 8 to 1 compression ratio. Thanks to anyone who has done any of this or knows more about this than me!!!

8 to 1! What are you going to turbo it or something? Are you sure? Why would you go to all the time and expense of putting a cam in a motor that has that low of compression?
Anyway the Rhoads will smooth out your idle but give you full lift off idle. The trade off is they are usually a bit noisey to the point that you might think something is wrong or just get annoyed by the sound after awhile. I had a set of Rhoads on for a short time but it smoothed out the idle so much it sounded like a Toyota to me( exaggeration ).

unfortunately I am guessing but I don't think it is as high as 9 to 1. I haven't been involved with this car for a few years, the motor only has about 2 thousand miles in the last 12 years. I am going to check the 4x heads and see how big the chambers are supposed to be. What I really want to accomplish is for it to sound like it has a radical cam without actually having it thus the specs mentioned

"... I don't think it is as high as 9 to 1...I am going to check the 4x heads and see how big the chambers are supposed to be..."

I think a stock 4X head 400 had less than 8:1 CR. And, if it was rebuilt with the "8 eyebrow" pistons, it could possibly have even less comp than original. This site shows that all '73 & '74 400 engines had exactly 8:1 CR.

http://www.thepontiactransampage.com/engspec.html

But, online info differs.

http://www.hotrod.com/articles/0312pon-4x-6x-racing-heads/

http://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/wiki/Pontiac_V8_engine

http://www.wallaceracing.com/cratio0001.htm

http://www.wallaceracing.com/cr_test2.php

As mentioned, the Rhoads will give you a smoother idle.

The small Voodoo cams were designed to give the low compression engines more cylinder pressure. So, one of these will increase your power.

A Voodoo 256 will give you lots of low end torque. But, the Voodoo 262 will have a healthier sounding idle. And. with a manual trans and 3.55 gears, would probably make a good low comp 400 engine.

http://www.lunatipower.com/Product.aspx?id=1775

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Hydraulic-Lifters-Oldsmobile-Pontiac-260-307-350-389-400-403-421-425-428-455-/282638420185?hash=item41ce9008d9:g:JDoAAOSww9xZODlz&vxp=mtr

But, you need screw-in studs & stronger than stock springs. Some 4X heads had screw-in studs, & some didn't.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VSH3-Pontiac-PERFORMANCE-valve-springs-400-455-389-350-428-GTO-Firebird-/282638420180?hash=item41ce9008d4:g:hvgAAOSwB4NW0LgK&vxp=mtr

A 256 Voodoo can get by with weaker springs.

http://www.lunatipower.com/Product.aspx?id=1774&gid=287

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pontiac-V8-stock-valve-springs-400-455-389-350-428-GTO-Firebird-/272833753101?hash=item3f8628b00d:g:LYAAAOSwmrlU0mJ9&vxp=mtr

Paul Spotts & many others recommend having your heads machined for positive valve stem seals, if you don't already have 'em.

I guess you could always get yourself one of those sound tracks and play it through your stereo like the hybrids do. Seriously though there's really only one way to make a motor sound like a badass. Unfortunately it costs a lot. The Rhoads are not what you are looking for. New lifters are NOT going to do the trick. New heads, cam, short block, fuel system and exhaust is what you're after just to start. Just sayin. Nothing's free.

My first engine I put in my 68 after I pulled the original engine was composed of a bunch of parts I had that were already machined and ready to go.
+.040 400 block and 6x -8 heads. I cot a set of those 8 eyebrow pistons and put them on factory rods with new ARP bolts. I used a ram air 3 camshaft I had and a performer intake with a 650 holley double pumper.
I estimated the compression to be around 7.2:1 7.5:1
Cranking compression was down at 125 psi
This engine ran great on the cheapest 87 octane gas and I was able to burn the tires off the rims all the way up into 3rd gear on my speed muncie. It's all in the tuning of the carburetor and timing.
Don't believe everything you read on the interwebs.

I ran 2 set of Rhodes lifters. I HATED THEM! Do they work? Maybe. They sound like a bucket of marbles in an empty clothes dryer. Things Rhodes lifter company can't answer:
If I run straight 30 weight oil verses 10w30, how will it effect my "bleed down" and thus performance? Can I send them back if they don't increase performance? (NO) When the oil is cold, i guess the bleed down doesn't work as well? How can you tell if the reduction of duration will assist your vehicle if you run a properly selected cam shaft? When they are bleeding off oil are my rocker arms being old properly?

Not a fan.

Rhodes lifters DECREASE duration at lower oil pressures, thus your engine would sound milder, plus with the additional racket the lifters themselves cause.

Rhoads haters will always hate & badmouth Rhoads lifters, just like "qudrajunk" haters will always badmoth Q-jets & tell you how much better a Holley is.

Lots of us have used Rhoads lifters for 40 years or so, with good results. They have been well proven by thousands of guys, for a long time. We won lots of races with Rhoads lifters and Q-jet carbs. So, it all depends on who you ask.

But, if you don't like Rhoads lifters and/or Q-jet carbs, just don't use 'em. Use something else. But, there's no sense in badmouthing something just because you prefer something else.

Jim Hand and Cliff Ruggles are 2 well respected Pontiac guys who have successfully used & recommend Rhoads lifters. They have dyno & drag strip testing to back up what they say. Rhoads lifters work exactly as advertised, to extend the power range of the cam. They allow you to use a slightly larger cam than would be possible with regular lifters. They smooth out the idle some, give slightly more vac, and probably more torque, under 3000 rpm.

It's always been rather comical to me how some guys say they really love the way a solid lift cam sounds at idle, but then you hear other guys say how they just can't stand the minor "ticking" sound the Rhoads make. If you have a hot rod, with a healthy sounding exhaust system, you can hardly hear Rhoads lifters at all.

But, for the Rhoads haters, there are several other brands out there. You can have quiet lifters & a quiet exhaust system if you prefer. Roll up the windows, turn up the AC and cruise. Different strokes.

I'm curious to hear feedback on the V-Max versions...

The V-Max versions are adjustable. That is, the amount of duration & lift reduction is adjustable.

The adjustment process is a lot more complicated than with the reg Rhoads.

Cliff Ruggles has explained the adjustment process, over on the PY forum. He says they are quieter.

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=787115

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/forums/showthread.php?787267&p=5541749#post5541749

I've never used the V-Max version. The adjustment process looks too complicated for me. I'll just stick to the original version. They work great. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it. "

I admit it, I'm a Rhodes hater. Only because of my experience with them. I see that have been proven so effective that all the new cars now have bleed off lifters….Rhodes hydraulic roller lifters have taken the market over……oh wait, thats not true. Must be the haters.

Do I detect a touch of sarcastic prejudice ?

Some believe the earth was created by a higher power. Some believe in the "Big Bang Theory".

Some believe man was created. Some believe that we somehow evolved from apes.

Some believe Rhoads lifters work, as advertised, and will extend the usable power range of a cam. Some believe they just make a lot of noise and do no good at all.

This is a great country !!! We can all believe whatever we choose to believe, and as long as we don't break the law, we are free to live here. PTL !!!

just my 2 cents... I have never had Rhodes lifters before buying the new engine.... its one of the things that I really regret.. the car sounds kinda horrible.. I'm gonna change my exhaust to something more aggressive to try and mask the tapping... if I had it to do over again id buy something else...