Re: Anyone built a '47-54 engine lately?

Posted by Owen_Dyneto On 2013/12/21 9:36:32

Ross probably has better advice as he's been thru this a lot more than I have, but I've changed perhaps 3 or 4 sets of hydraulic lifters on 47-54 engines and never soaked them in oil. After checking the lifter-to-stem length and adjusting as needed, I just filled the cam follower with a couple of squirts of oil from an oil can before inserting the hydraulic portion. Of course that which was in excess just squirted out but the lifters were silent almost immediately on first start-up and never had any issues thereafter. Of course you could also remove the plunger and put a little oil directly in the lifter itself. I don't think simple soaking would ever get any oil past the ball check but could be wrong.