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Apologies for laboring this post, but.....

In getting stuff together prior to work, I have a question about pushrods.

Do they need to return to their original hole? Same way up as before removal? Why?

If any are damaged, I note they are available; do they have to be fitted in some way?

Thanks again, as always

Not really necessary. It is just a good policy to return everything to original position. I won;t bore with the details.

The new pushrods have no special fitting procedures. But that does not mean that one simply removes it from it;s package with a big smile on their face and full faith and confidence that it is exactly what they need and simply install it because it fits or because it is new.
Any new or used replacement part of an engine should be compared to the old part in terms of length and various other visual characteristics of the part.

Is there a problem with running new lifters with an old seasoned cam?

(o{}o)

Is there a problem with running new lifters with an old seasoned cam?

There certainly can be, it's not a best practice. Many folks have apparently gotten away with it without immediate problems, though for how long is the question. Last time I replaced lifters I removed the cam and had it inspected and polished by a cam specialist - it didn't need reprofiling.

I have been told that if the removed tappets are visually undamaged the cam should be fine. Or to put it the other way, damaged tappets can indicate cam issues.

The issue for me is simple: retirement budget. As noted earlier, I love driving the car and want to care for it--but I have to be frugal. Not meaning to be a tearjerker or whiny...it's just reality.

If a tappet is mushroomed and/or not removable I have a problem.

I have no reason to be worried about the pushrods; just want to be prepared.

How many miles are on the engine??? If u don't know for sure then make an educated guess based on the evidence that the car presents.

If less than 80K miles it is not likely that the cam is worn to any extent to cause suspicion. I have one out here, a 56 V8 that came out of a very rusty but very original car i bought from Al K with 115K miles. The cam looks good.


What do the bottom of the lifers look like??? Are they very concave worn???? Maybe just a few of them.

The trick to this engine buidling is INSPECTION AND ANALYSIS of individual parts. Draw conclusions from that analysis. Visualy inspect the cam. IF it looks ok then rock on with it the way it is.

Visual inspection and analysis of the parts using two eyes that one has in their head and maybe a few precision measuing instruments will produce the optimal results everytime.

I've seen rather low mileage FACTORY engines where maybe one lifter failed because it was not heat treated correctly and the botom wore thru to a hole. The rest of the lifters were fine. THis type of thing is not uncommon among ANY part of a car. On the other hand i've ran into FACORY OEM PACKAGEDED parts still in the sealed box that had flaws. Probably about a 5% rate over the years.

My point is that if a part, ANY part is still with in service spec then don't try to replace it with something that mite not be as good just because it is new or "professionaly' rebuilt.

Visual inspection!! Apart is either good or it is not. Don;t guess at it. LOOK AT IT!!

It has about 80,000 miles. No reason to believe this is incorrect.