Can lifter be removed from a 250 without pulling the head?

[Anonymous]

I just read an old post saying that the lifters can be removed from a 250 without pulling the head by using a hydraulic lifter puller tool. Can anybody verify that there is or isn't enough clearance to pull a lifter without removing the head?

Thanks ... Dan

 

[rbohm]

8) there is no way to remove the lifters from a 250, or any other small ford six, without removing the head. there is no access panel that would allow that.

 

[addo]

It may be accessed from below. To do this, you will need to have the motor upside down, with the oil pan and valve cover off. It's easier if the motor is removed from the car first for this step. Once the cam is removed, the pushrods may be used to force the lifters out the bottom of their bores.

Certainly not the easy way to do things!

Regards, Adam.

 

[rancheroman]

Yes you can, I've done it. Pull the engine from the chassis, stand it
up on it's back, remove the oil pan, valve cover and rocker arm, shaft.
Push the lifter up from the bottom just enough to clear the cam, remove
the cam, push the lifters down from the top, using the pushrods.
Install the new lifters from the bottom, reinstall the cam etc. etc.
Hope this helps. Paul

 

[Does10s]

Seems to me that it would be much easier to just pull the head.
Later,
Will

 

[CobraSix]

I'm going from memory as I'm not at home and can't look at my spare head, but are the holes in the head for the pushrods too small to pull a lifter out of? I have a lifter puller for other engines that you can pull a lifter without pulling the head. It's a cool, simple, little gadget though it has dubious success ratio in that it can take quite a few tries to get it to pull the lifter out successfully.

Slade

 

[MustangSix]

If those lifters have been in there for a long time they can be hard to pull. I have had to punch them out from above or below on some engines.

But, no, you cannot feasibly remove and replace lifters without pulling the head. Yes, it can be done from below, but frankly, pulling the head is easier than pulling the pan, the crank pulley, the timing cover, the timing gears, the cam, the oil pump, the distributor........

 

[Anonymous]

Well ... I have a rebuilt 250 engine that was rebuilt about 2 years ago or so and sat in a crate. I put it in my Maverick a few months back. On initial startup it made quite a bit of racket ... I am guessing that the engine sat so long there was a stuck lifter or two. It took a while but the lifter finally quieted down. Now there is a distinct lifter tap coming from I think the #5 cylinder. I assume the lifter that had problems at startup is shot and not fully pumping up or staying pumped up. I have 900 miles on the engine ... I was hoping not to have to pull the head. But the lifter noise is annoying to say the least .... It is quiet for about 10 seconds on initial startup but once warmed up it clicks ....

 

[MustangSix]

Check your pushrods and rockers.

These items will wear over time and often don't get replaced. The pushrod cup in the rocker will become worn due to lack of lubrication from a clogged oil passage and the pushrod itself will wear into an oval or even a pointed shape at the rocker end. The extra lash will cause a ticking or clacking sound.

If those are worn it's an easy fix that can be done in an hour or so.

 

[Lazy JW]

Yes you can, I've done it. Pull the engine from the chassis, stand it
up on it's back, remove the oil pan, valve cover and rocker arm, shaft.
Push the lifter up from the bottom just enough to clear the cam, remove
the cam, push the lifters down from the top, using the pushrods.
Install the new lifters from the bottom, reinstall the cam etc. etc.
Hope this helps. Paul

IIRC Paul is the gentleman who set a land speed record with that engine (yup, for real) and went to all that trouble because he was loathe to pull the head and spoil his head gasket. Takes dedication 8)
Joe

 

[Anonymous]

Check your pushrods and rockers.

These items will wear over time and often don't get replaced. The pushrod cup in the rocker will become worn due to lack of lubrication from a clogged oil passage and the pushrod itself will wear into an oval or even a pointed shape at the rocker end. The extra lash will cause a ticking or clacking sound.

If those are worn it's an easy fix that can be done in an hour or so.

Thanks ... I have yet to pull the valve cover and check the topside ... I supposed I should do that before assuming a lifter is bad .... Dan