marry Christmas everyone,
i just got a new set of lifters for my 1977 400...so this will be my first time installing lifters. ill have an experienced friend with me but i just want to know, any tips for doing this? random things i should know? and do i need any special tools? Thanks in advance for the help, hope your all having a great day.

 

Hopefully you are replacing the cam as well. Cam and lifters are a worn pair. Its like a ring and pinion they wear together so they get replaced together. By replacing just lifters you could possibly damage the cam or worse damage the new lifters.

 

^
Yeah that.

 

well thats not good...the truck sat for a long time and only 2 of my lifters are bad..the engine was rebuilt right before it started sitting..would this change the cam issue or do i still need a new cam.

 

Personally I would replace just the lifters . I think the chances are very slim that they would not seat in correctly . We might have to get myth busters on this one , he he .

Lube the lifter and apply a blob of assembly lube on the flat of the lifter before inserting it into the bore .

Zinc additives help with the high pressure from metal to metal contact in gears , flat tappets , etc . Most modern oils have reduced the amount of zinc content to help the environment , most engines now have roller lifters.

Diesel motors need more zinc additives due to higher pressure on the wrist pins. I use diesel recommended Rotella 15w40 to break in flat tappet motors .

 

alright cool..so what do i need to know before i make a mistake here...just wanna make sure i do it right so i dont have to do it agian

 

10-4 on the diesel engine oil to get enough zinc for the flat tappet cam. Walmart also stocks Shell Rotella T in 10W30 if you need a lighter or winter weight oil.

 

You should always check the preload on each lifter.

 

ok so started the installation today, went pretty good...found out i had a bent pushrod....couldnt have happened too long ago. so i ordered a set off of summit. also found out that since i have A/C i had to bend one of the old robs to get it out...is there a trick to getting the new one in or does the giant black box on the passengers side have to come off...if so can anyone tell me how. also, the lifters i bought were the tmeyer ones...so out of the 16, 2 of the lifters rattle when shaken...they still spring up but the rattle very loudly...is this a sign of a bad lifter or are these still ok to use. i figured i would call the company tomorrow. As for the conditions of the old lifters....some were very worn and some looked ok.

 

also, do i need to find the source of the bent push rod before i continue...my plan was to get the new rods in, then crank the motor and do a compression test and watch to make sure everything is working and good. will this work?