hydraulic lifters - 1947 356 cu inch

Posted by john verity On 2016/1/19 16:41:45

Hi, I need some advice and direction with my 356 hydraulic lifters.

The engine has just been professionally rebuilt. The rebuilder checked the valve stem length with the Packard gauge as recommended in the Packard repair manual. The tightest clearance from stem to gauge was about .040, and the loosest was .070+.

I disassembled the lifters and cleaned them as described in the repair manual. They all seemed to work correctly.

The engine wouldn't start, and in the process of checking all assembly issues I found that the most compression I had was 50 psi, and it went down from there. The repair manual warns about assembling the lifters with oil in them as excess oil in the lifter might keep the valves from seating - hence little or no compression,

When I removed the lifters after discovering low compression, they did have oil in the body. I don't know if I added some oil when I reassembled the lifters, or if they pumped up while cranking. The valve springs, by the way, all look good, but were not load tested.

I tried to get new lifters from Canter, but they don't have any and don't expect any.

I could reassemble the valve system making sure there is no oil in the lifters. I am thinking that I would like to find someone with more experience than I have to check the lifters and the valve springs before I reassemble and hope for enough compression for the engine to start.

I discussed changing to solid lifters with Canter, but understand that I would also need to change cams. It would be best to get the hydraulic lifters working the way they should.

What are your thoughts and advice?

Also,I have a set of +.002 rod bearings and a set of standard knurled skirt pistons I would like to find a new home for.

I am looking for replacement front turn signal lenses also.

Thanks for your help. The owners forum is very helpful.

John Verity, Boise, Idaho