All hogwash... I have used lifters from: Comp Cams, Howards Cams, Johnson-Hylift, EPWi (unknown origin), and more. I have used cams from: Lunati, Melling, Isky, Comp Cams, Howards Cams, maybe even a Schneider Cam, and others I can't remember. I have NEVER had a cam or lifter go bad with the exception of two of my own personal engines 30ish years ago that I had been talked into using Mobile 1 synthetic in on flat tappet cams. I attribute it all to proper assembly, proper lubricants, and attention to detail. I use Joe Gibbs Driven Assembly Grease on cams, lifters, valves, floating piston pins. I use Joe Gibbs Break-In oil on pistons & rings, and I use Sta-Lube Moly Assembly Lube on Bearings, lifter/rocker arm pushrod sockets. All of my engine builds get Joe Gibbs Break-In oil of the proper viscosity and instruct the customer on a proper break-in procedure with a final warning to only use either Joe Gibbs HR High Zinc oil or an Amsoil High Zinc product for flat tappet cams or a quality synthetic for roller cams. I have built engines for 3 or 4 members on these boards, one of which had 5 engines built. I have built diesel engines, race engines, stock engines, show engines, vintage engines, at least one Exotic engine (Rolls Royce S2), Industrial, Agricultural, single cylinder, Mercedes, BMW; too many to remember them all. On every engine I build, all surfaces are machined, all parts are replaced, proper assembly procedures and lubricants are used, attention to detail and above all else, cleanliness... There have been a few problems with bad parts, or hidden defects in blocks or heads that were resolved, but no cam or lifter failures.
