VORTEX 218 TORQUER — RETROFIT HYDRAULIC ROLLER
Small Block Chevy 262–400 CID
Includes Cast Hydraulic Roller Camshaft & Johnson 2116SBR Short Travel Link-Bar Lifters
218°/218° @ .050 • .326" Lobe Lift • .489"/.522" Valve Lift
108° / 110° / 112° LSA Options
Overview
The Vortex 218 Torquer Retrofit Hydraulic Roller package is designed for traditional Small Block Chevy 262–400 cubic inch engines that were originally equipped with flat tappet camshafts but are being upgraded to modern hydraulic roller technology.
This package combines a precision-ground cast hydraulic roller camshaft with premium Johnson 2116SBR Short Travel Link-Bar Lifters to deliver improved reliability, stronger low-end torque, faster throttle response, and significantly more area under the curve compared to traditional flat tappet profiles.
The 218°/218° @ .050 duration provides excellent street manners while maintaining the aggressive midrange torque and responsiveness expected from a modern roller setup. With .326" lobe lift and up to .522" valve lift using 1.6 ratio rockers, the Vortex 218 Torquer offers substantial airflow improvements without requiring extreme spring pressure or aggressive valvetrain components.
The included Johnson short-travel retrofit roller lifters improve high-RPM stability, reduce hydraulic pump-up, and provide more precise valve control than conventional long-travel hydraulic rollers — making this package ideal for street performance engines, trucks, cruisers, muscle cars, and mild street/strip builds.
Available in 108°, 110°, and 112° LSA configurations, the Vortex 218 Torquer can be tailored from a crisp, lopey hot rod idle to smooth EFI-compatible drivability.
 
Package Includes
Cast Retrofit Hydraulic Roller Camshaft
Johnson 2116SBR Short Travel Link-Bar Lifters
Camshaft specification card
Compatible with traditional Small Block Chevy 262–400 CID engines
 
Camshaft Specifications
Duration
Duration @ .050": 218° intake / 218° exhaust
Advertised Duration (@ .006"): ~246° / ~246°
 
Lift
Lobe Lift
.326" intake / .326" exhaust
 
Valve Lift
1.5 Rockers
.489" intake / .489" exhaust
1.6 Rockers (Recommended)
.522" intake / .522" exhaust
 
Valve Timing Events @ .050"
108° LSA
IO: 4° BTDC
IC: 34° ABDC
EO: 43° BBDC
EC: 3° ATDC
Overlap: ~7°
Characteristics
Hardest torque hit
Most aggressive idle quality
Fast throttle response
Best for lighter vehicles and aggressive street setups
 
110° LSA (Standard Street)
IO: 2° BTDC
IC: 36° ABDC
EO: 41° BBDC
EC: 5° ATDC
Overlap: ~3°
Characteristics
Broad torque curve
Excellent street manners
Strong vacuum signal
Best all-around performance option
 
112° LSA
IO: 0° BTDC
IC: 38° ABDC
EO: 39° BBDC
EC: 7° ATDC
Overlap: ~0°
Characteristics
Smooth idle quality
Highest vacuum production
Excellent EFI compatibility
Ideal for overdrive and highway cruiser applications
RPM Operating Range
1400–5800 RPM
Designed for strong low-speed torque, crisp throttle response, and broad usable street power.
 
Performance Characteristics
Idle Quality
Mild to moderate street-performance lope
Stable idle with excellent drivability
Strong vacuum production on 110° and 112° LSA configurations
Short-travel Johnson lifters improve idle consistency and valve control
 
Torque & Power Delivery
Exceptional low-end torque production
Strong midrange acceleration
Excellent throttle recovery
Modern roller lobes provide substantially more effective airflow than comparable flat tappet designs
Improved cylinder filling without excessive duration
 
Drivability
Excellent for street-driven vehicles
Compatible with power brakes
Works well with carbureted or EFI conversions
Reduced valvetrain friction compared to flat tappet setups
Excellent long-term durability when properly tuned
 
Recommended Valvetrain Components
Valve Springs
Recommended:
120–140 lbs seat pressure
320–360 lbs open pressure
Examples:
PAC-1218
Comp 986-16
Equivalent dual springs
 
Lifters
Included:
Johnson 2116SBR Short Travel Link-Bar Lifters
Benefits:
Short-travel hydraulic design
Improved high-RPM stability
Reduced pump-up potential
Excellent oil control
Premium USA-made lifter construction
 
Pushrods
Recommended:
5/16" or 3/8" chromoly
.080"–.105" wall thickness
 
Rocker Arms
Compatible With:
1.5:1 full roller rockers
1.6:1 full roller rockers (recommended)
1.7:1 optional with proper spring and piston-to-valve clearance verification
Minimum Clearances
Retainer-to-seal clearance: .540" minimum
Verify piston-to-valve clearance on all builds
Verify pushrod length during final assembly
 
Recommended Converter & Gearing
110° LSA — Balanced Street Setup
Stall Converter: 2000–2400 RPM
Rear Gear: 3.31–3.73
Best Use
Daily drivers
Muscle cars
Mild street/strip builds
 
108° LSA — Street Torque / Hot Rod
Stall Converter: 2400–2800 RPM
Rear Gear: 3.55–4.10
Best Use
Lighter vehicles
Hot rods
Aggressive street combinations
 
112° LSA — EFI / Overdrive
Stall Converter: 1800–2200 RPM
Rear Gear: 3.08–3.55
 
Best Use
EFI conversions
Highway cruisers
Trucks with overdrive transmissions
 
Best Engine Applications
Small Block Chevy 262–400 CID
Retrofit hydraulic roller conversions
Carbureted or EFI applications
8.5:1–10.5:1 compression ratios
Street trucks and cruisers
Muscle cars and hot rods
Mild nitrous applications
Street performance towing combinations
 
Why Choose Red Line Cams?
At Red Line Cams, every camshaft is ground in-house using proven lobe designs developed for real street-driven performance engines. Unlike generic shelf grinds, we offer multiple LSA options so you can tailor idle quality, vacuum, throttle response, and power delivery to your exact combination.
With over 35 years of camshaft grinding experience, Red Line Cams delivers real-world performance, premium valvetrain compatibility, and direct support from the people who actually manufacture your camshaft.