Collapsed lifters?
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Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,149
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From: Russellville, MO
Collapsed lifters?
I'm working on a 65 Rustallion with a 302 in it of unknown lineage. It belongs to a buddy of mine so I volunteered to fix the mess it is. Stupid me. Four of the 16 lifters have no movement in the lifter body, I pushed down on the rocker arms and got no movement. The other twelve, all have movement in them. I'm thinking the four are collapsed but want to be rather certain before I tell my buddy ne needs an intake set and set of lifters.
Thanks,
Chip.
Thanks,
Chip.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
They're probably stuck, and they may or may not unstick themselves when oil pressure is applied but you can at least try to test that by priming the oil pump with an electric drill. To do that remove the distributor and fit appropriate sockets and extensions on the pump drive shaft, but be sure to tape all the pieces together so nothing is lost inside the motor. Also note the distributor normally rotates counter clockwise.
Cargo Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,071
Likes: 36
From: British Columbia
I assume that the engine is still assembled, since you say that you pushed down on the rocker arms to check the lifters. Those lifters that are holding valves open will not compress down further, as they are already being compressed by the valve spring pressure.
To properly check the lifters they need to be removed from the engine (kept in order if non-roller type), cleaned and checked with a bench tester in proper solvent.
But unless there is a definite problem with the lifters, I wouldn't bother.
To properly check the lifters they need to be removed from the engine (kept in order if non-roller type), cleaned and checked with a bench tester in proper solvent.
But unless there is a definite problem with the lifters, I wouldn't bother.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 7,017
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From: SoCal
I don't suppose you can use a long straw to squirt some carb cleaner into those sticky lifters? Then actuate them by hand with the rockers again to loosen them up. Then prime the pump again to push oil through them.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2010
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Likes: 61
From: Russellville, MO
I'll try that this weekend. I'm none too excited about disassembling this thing any further than absolutely necessary. I have my 75 Dentside sitting outside needing to come in for some loving, the sooner this car is fixed and gone, the sooner my dent can come in.
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Cargo Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,071
Likes: 36
From: British Columbia
Perhaps you should just start up the engine and see if the lifters free themselves up with a little running. Or rather, that the engine run with no loud lifter noise.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: SoCal
Just to be clear, I meant to loosen the rocker enough to turn it out of the way, pull out the pushrod, and run a straw or hose through the pushrod hole to the top of the lifter, and shoot some carb cleaner onto it. If you aim correctly with the straw on the carb cleaner spray can, you might even use the pushrod as the extension straw that reaches the top of the lifter. I know it's a hassle removing the intake, so I too would prefer doing as little disassembling as possible.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Russellville, MO
I ended up coming up with an excuse to cut an old pushrod and weld up a cobbled sort of funnel and poured some Seafoam into the four guilty lifters, I let them sit overnight and this morning, all four had some movement. Tonight or tomorrow morning, I'll run the valves and fire it up. It now has an adjustable valvetrain since he decided to order roller rockers, studs and polylocks.
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