Re: Lifters? Help please!

Posted by Packard Dude On 2011/1/30 17:49:30

I know this is a little late in posting, but I've done the conversion in my 327.

Yes, you have to change the cam. As previously stated, the ramps are different. Any competent cam grinder can regrind a hydraulic cam to solid specs. Unfortunately, this procedure involves pulling the head, valves, timing cover and pan. Fortunately, by the time they started producing the 288 engine they were using interference-fit adjusters, so it doesn't take 3 hands to adjust them. When adjusted correctly they don't make any noise.

I quit hydraulics because I was having trouble with a couple of them having an excessive bleed-down rate (even though they tested fine out of the car) so they would clatter for a couple of minutes when I pulled off a freeway. Prior to my rebuild I had a problem of weak valve springs that were not strong enough to enforce bleed-down at higher speeds (the pressure buildup within the lifter was greater than the valve springs' ability to maintain a balanced, pressure-neutral situation), thereby holding the valve slightly off its seat and causing a miss at idle. All this was with oil pressure in the 30-40lb range.

For me, it's just too much work to take a chance on used lifters. If you do this just make sure the lifters are refaced and that the interference fit is reasonably tight.

Cheers. Bob in Portland