Comments have been made on this forum, regarding problems with Comp Cams flat-tappet lifters. Hy-lift Johnson lifters were recommended. Has anyone had problems with Comp Cam's Y-block lifters? Hy-Lift Johnson confirmed that the Comp Cams Y-block lifters are actually made by Hy-lift Johnson. Clay Smith also confirmed that Hy-Lift makes their lifters, and Ted confirmed that the Isky lifters are also made by Hy-lift. Unless Comp, Clay Smith, and Isky lifters are ground to different specs, I have to assume that all of these lifters are the same. If this is the case, why would the Comp lifters be any less reliable?

I have been using Comp Cams lifters in my engines for years without problems.  I am running them in my current engine with an Isky cam.  So far, so good.

When it comes to machined parts, ‘Assume nothing’.

While lifter quality is important, it’s only half of the solution when looking at not having excessive lobe wear.  Comp Cams has been notorious in grinding flat tappet camshafts without adequate lobe taper.  It just takes a small percentage of those camshafts to be a problem, but that small percentage is still a problem just the same.  For Comp Cams, this is not just a Y-Block problem but an issue for any engine using a flat tappet camshaft.  It’s always a challenge when a Comp Cams flat tappet camshaft equipped engine comes into the shop for dyno testing.  Many pass the test but some do not.  For that reason, I’ll not use Comp Cams for flat tappet camshafts in any of my builds.  There’s already too many variables involved in having a flat tappet camshaft survive without throwing the camshaft itself into the fray.  And sending camshafts back to the manufacturer due to problems on their end is typically done at my own expense which is both costly and time consuming.

Anything less than 0.001” lobe taper with stock valve spring pressures becomes suspect and needs to be sent back to the supplier before installing in an engine.  Iskenderian knows this and as the camshafts get more radical, the lobe taper increases accordingly.  It’s a combination of lobe taper and lifter face radius that allows the lifter to rotate.  As the camshaft lobe lift and subsequent valve spring pressure increases, so to does the need for increased lobe taper.

Lobe taper and lifter face radius are only two reasons for camshaft failures.  Here’s the link to the article published in The Y-Block Magazine that goes into a myriad of reasons for camshaft failures.  Some are quite obvious while others are not.
https://www.eatonbalancing.com/2012/11/06/camshaft-and-lifter-failure-causes-2/ 

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

My cam is Schneider Racing; only the lifters are Comp. I purchased them after receiving confirmation from Hylift that they are Hylift lifters. 

Thanks, Phil, for positive feedback. 

There can be a multitude of causes for cam failure.   Incorrect installation, faulty break-in procedure and improper oil to name just a few.  I have never seen a defective Comp Cams lifter.  That doesn't mean they are all good.  I would take Ted's advice and never assume anything. You don't want a cam failure, especially in an early Tbird.  Pulling the engine out of one of those cars is NO day at the beach! 

Still liking the Comp lifters, Phil? Mine are still in the box.

Apparently, the Comp Cams Y-block lifters are no longer available. 

"Edward" of Topline Hylift Johnson confirmed that all of their Y-block lifters, regardless of which brand they are sold under, are of the same quality. 

According to Comp Cams, they no longer sell Y-block lifters either because of a supply issue or lack of demand.

I have two Y blocks with the Comp Cam lifters and have not had any problems.... maybe I'm just lucky?