USING OIL THROUGH LIFTERS ON A REGULAR ROCKER SETUP

[wsa111]

What would be the problem of using the oil through lifters that are for a SMALL BLOCK FORD on a solid pushrod regular rocker oiling shaft design, with the future thought of going to the 1.65 full roller rocker arms which uses pushrod oiling. The solid ball end of the solid pushrod would block the oil flow from escaping from the oil hole in the pushrod cup.
Then when you wanted to update to the 1.65 full roller rockers you already have the oil through lifter installed & broken in on the camshaft that you are using. That not only saves you from at the least from removing the cylinder head to install the oil through lifters. Installing another lifter on a camshaft is not the best thing, because the lifters are mated to each camshaft lobe from initial installation after the initial breakin.
Mike,az coupe you sell both sets & said you were going to discontinue the regular 1.6 roller tip rocker setup. Has any body tried this, at most you would get a little more oiling at the pushrod end at the lifter.
Is there any difference in length between the 2 pushrods?
Is there any difference from the base of each type of lifter to the pushrod seat?
LETS hear it guys. William

 

[addo]

I would kill for the answer myself. It really appeals to common sense in planning ahead, doesn't it?

 

[xctasy]

It should be okay. The oil would face a dead end and then deliver oil back to the normal priority system.

 

[addo]

I wondered if the oil expulsion through the top hole played a part in the lifter's hydraulic action - is there a risk it would basically lock up if obstructed?

 

[xctasy]

Hmmmmmm. Out of my depth. Seams to me it would not create a leak over unless it is not limited by the hemisphere of the non=oil through pushrod.

 

[Does10s]

If my memory serves me correctly we did this on Kelly's 250. We got the oiling lifters with non-oiling pushrods and standard adj. rockers. So far it seems to work.
Man I hope my info is correct! I don't want to give you bogus info! I'll have to look at my receipts when I get home. I'm dying to know now!
I got all of our stuff from Mike at FSPP so maybe he'll chime in here and confirm what I bought!
I'm truely loosing my mind!!!!!
Will

 

[AzCoupe]

Will, According to my records, you didn't buy lifters or pushrods from me. But I may have donated them? I don't remember either

William, I have been thinking about this same solution for more than a year and have discussed it with Gary at Rocker Arm Specialties in the past and again today. We both feel that it is viable and no unforseeable problems would arise.

He told me that some of his customers, who are running the Buick 350ci engines, can't find the stock non-oiling lifters. Thus their only option is to use oil-pumping lifters when rebuilding. Some oil will be pumped thru the lifters when the valves are closed, so they will have an oil change in the lifter bodies, to some extent. He went on to say they have had no adverse effects from doing so.

The pushrod length for non-oiling and oiling lifters would be the same. The stock adjustables and the RAS roller tipped rockers use ball and cup non-oiling pushrods, where as the full roller rockers use ball and ball hollow pushrods. So you'll have to change the pushrods if you go with full roller rockers later on.

Therefore, in his expert opinion, it would be fine to use an oil-pumping lifter with a solid pushrod.

 

[wsa111]

Mike, Thanks for the reply. I did purchase lifters,pushrods & the 264 camshaft with a 112 lobe center. I also purchased the 1.6 rocker arm assembly with the blue rockers.
I was in my local parts store looking at lifters. I checked a set of competion cams lifters for a SBF 832-16 & the lifters are about .125 " longer than the non oiling stock lifters. The oil pressure annulus is the same demension as the stock 200 lifters. Could you measure your oiling lifters which come in you 1.65 rocker arm package as far as total length.
The difference in length occured above the oil annulus, they were about .125 longer. Let me know.
Also get me a total cost with shipping to zip code 29445 for the complete 1.65 full roller rocker arm setup with oiling pushrods & lifters? PM me with the total cost.
For you other readers i would like to sell a new in box set of non oiling lifters,pushrods & new in box 1.6 roller rocker arm assembly. Which i purchased from FSPP. Thanks William

 

[wsa111]

Before you guys go out & purchase lifters, i am in contact with mike on the following issue. The SBF lifters are .150 higher at the pushrod cup than the stock non oiler lifters. Mike is checking, do the 1.65 yella terra full rollerized rockers compensate for the higher lifter height.
On a stock rocker arm adjustable assembly & the 1.60 roller tip rockers you would need a .150 shorter pushrod to maintain proper valve train geometry. Any feedback would be helpful. William

 

[wsa111]

Today, i spoke to dave at crane cams on one of my other projects, & I asked him about the use of a pushrod 7.850 in total length for the 200 engine using the SBF oil through lifter. He stated that would be no problem when using the 1.6 roller end rockers or the 1.5 stock for adjustable rocker arms. The reason behind this is when you ever want to go to the 1.65 yella terra rockers arms from www.fordsixparts.com that you would not have pull the head & install the v-8 lifters which are .150 higher than the stock non oiling lifters on these engines.
I have been in contact with mike at FSPP & said these pushrods would be a special ordered item, but at least it will work till if you ever deside to go the 1.65 full roller rocker arm setup. It will not hurt to use a non oil through pushrod with the small block ford oil through lifter.
The deminision of the lifter is the same till you get above the upper annulas of the oil area of the lifter in the lifter oil galley passage.
The push rods would be 7.850 in total length with a 5/16 cup at the top & a 5/16 ball at the lifter. When Mike gets back on his feet, i'm sure he will persue this avenue. William

 

[addo]

This is great info - you seem to have revealed a skilled consensus.

It would maybe make custom pushrods a good idea as a "hedge" allowing for upgrading the rocker gear with the same cam and lifters.

Probably if you pre-threaded the oil gallery in the head adjacent to the rear rocker pedestal bolt-hole, it would be even easier to plug off the old oiling system at that time of upgrade, too.

Regards, Adam.