Hydraulic Lifter Adjustment

[78 granada]

I have always submerged new hydraulic lifters in oil and worked them a little before installing them. The CI Tech section has me a little confused now. The article says that the lifters need to be able to be fully compressed for initial lash adjustment. Again, in the past I take up the slop and when the pushrod can't rotate I add another 1/4 turn. I do not believe that the lifter is bottoming all the way out before the pushrod can't be rotated by hand. How have you all done it? The head is on but I guess I can use a rod to try and compress all the lifters before I proceed but I don't see the point to that... Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks everyone!

 

[bubba22349]

Are you using the stock non adjustable rockers or did you swap on a set of adjustable's? Good luck

 

[78 granada]

Thanks Bubba. I have a nice set of adjustables from RAU. I am more curious than anything. To me there is no difference between oiled or not. I am just going to adjust out the lash and then go probably 1/4 turn for starters. But, you guys have a lot more time on these sixes than I do so it would be stupid not to ask! So many different takes on everything....... Thanks for responding my friend.

 

[bubba22349]

In the past I have done it that same way of oiling lifters in many engine of numerous brands and sizes. Now I just put some assemblely lube on the cam lobes and lifter face then do a prelube of the engines compleate oiling system with a drill, before starting them.

The C.I. Tech is talking about presetting them dry and is a very good method where some people run into problems is not being able to feel the slight drag when the lifter is at zero lash. I have often set mine (on performance engines) with the engine warmed up good and running at a slow idle. By loosening them until they just start to tick then adjusting until they stop (Zero Lash) then adding a quarter turn. In my opinion this second way is a bit more accurate because the engine is warmed up to operating temps, but can also be quite a messy job especially if you already have your engine all detailed nice. In the end because of the lifters adjustment tolerances there may not be a sugnifcate difference between the two ways for the average street use. Good luck

 

[78 granada]

Hey as long as you are satisfying all my curiosities, how about this one; I just drilled and deburred the valve side oil holes in my rockers to 1/8" as the stock set was and as recommended in the Falcon handbook. I noticed that the oil port to the push rod is fed by a channel in the rocker but the port to the valve that I drilled just basically gets residual oil from around the shaft - no channel to direct the oil to that particular port. I probably look to close at these things right?!!! It's an illness.....

 

[adamscm]

Yes, it's an illness...I have it too. Yes, that area just gets shaft oil that gets forced into there. But if you've ever seen the mess the oil makes when you run with the valve cover off, there's plenty of oil getting all over everything. I'm convinced that the later rocker shafts were made to get a bit more oil to that area. The very bottom of the shaft, along its length, has about a 1/8 inch wide flat spot milled out of it. If you just put a finger under your shaft (that sounds bad) you should be able to feel it. That would let a bit more oil get out to the edges of the rocker.

 

[78 granada]

Ya I asked the wife to check mine but she won't, Ha! Seriously, or at least semi seriously, the RAU shaft doesn't have the flat. Glad I decided not to use the bleed style stand...I image there will be loose enough tolerance between the rocker and shaft to provide enough oil. We're going to find out!

 

[bubba22349]

Yes you should be fine on oiling and of corse the extra oil is doing more then just supplying lube it's also has a bit of cooling effect too. The oil carries some heat away from valves and springs as it drains back into the oil pan, is important on the exhaust valves as every bit helps in making it all last a long time. Just like keeping it as clean as possible (sludge and grime are insulators that hold the heat in) along with regular oil and filter changes help too. Good luck

 

[78 granada]

Awesome advice you guys! Thank you and I'll keep you up on how this goes.......