I have just about everything for my cam and head swap now and am getting ready to do the deed.UD cam arrived today Wooohoo. graemlins/hurray.gif I am positive I understand how to install and degree the cam and set the valves. The 1 thing that kind of puzzles me is the hyd lifters. Installing new lifters means there is no oil in the lifter body. Correct? When you adjust the valves after installing new lifters you are doing it with no oil in the lifter. What happens when the lifter pumps up after running the engine? Is this already figured in when you set the valve 1/2 turn past the point of 0 lash in the pushrod? If that is the case how the heck would you set valves with the existing lifters. I am starting to ramble here and confuse myself. I guess basically if someone could just explain the basics to me I would appreciate it very much.

Jerry

If you have one of your lifters in front of you, notice that you can take a pushrod and depress the internal plunger and it will return to the top snap ring. The goal is to set the lash to 0 then 1/2 turn. With no oil in the lifter, be sure and watch the pushrod travel when adjusting. The plunger will be down from the snap ring about an 1/8 to 1/4 inch.

Thanks Dave. OK I think I understand then. So the plunger portion of the lifter would then never return as high as the snap ring and the oil, when the lifter is pumped up would cushion the piston in the lifter when pushed down(as in a hydraulic cylinder) makes sense graemlins/clonk.gif


Jerry

Originally posted by d1_bradley:
The plunger will be down from the snap ring about an 1/8 to 1/4 inch. Actually, more like .040-.060". smile.gif

Just a minor correction. With the valve closed, the lifter plunger should only be down about .050" Thats less than 1/16" One turn on a typical small block rocker stud (3/8 x 24 thread) is .042" Big block (7/16 x 20) is .050"

Pat,
You changed yours before I had a chance to post smile.gif Thats cheating !

I have the same concern, so I submerged mine in oil then worked the piston up and down with an old push rod. I don't know if it will help, but it's cheap insurance.