hydraulic lifter problems

bowtie44s · Newbie Joined: 13 May 2012 Posts: 16 772.34 points

Block is untouched. Melling hv77 is the only oil mod. It carries good oil pressure with 5w30 conventional.

I soaked the lifters for 24 hrs, lubed the bottoms and dropped them in. I found 0 lash and went another 1/2 turn. Yes I was on the base of the cam. Put the intake on, prime the pump for about 2 minutes (gauge said something like 55psi) dropped in the distributor rolled the engine and it sounded like there were no spark plugs in it.

When I tighten the rocker the plunger doesn't budge, it just opens the valve. The exhaust opens the valves at first but it quickly bleeds back down and the valve closes. I can NOT push the plunger with a push rod, shouldn't I be able to? I replaced the lifters when the cam was still new and they did the same thing. I have stock pushrods and rockers. I know how to check roller rockers and it's a bit more vague on stamped rockers if you use the same method but they look fine. I am going to put in full roller rockers to eliminate that question and I'll get more consistent lift and less friction to boot.

I am out of ideas, I'm about to send that cam to the scrap pile and start over but I'm sure I'll have the same problem. There is obviously something wrong, I just cant find what. The pushrods, guide plates and rockers all look fine, what else could it be? I don't know much about hydraulic lifters, what could cause them to fill clear full of oil and not let it back out? I have tried edelbrock and comp cams lifters.

Paul P · Posted: Wed May 16, 2012 9:05 am Post subject:

Swap the intake and exhaust lifters and do the same test.

See if the problem stays with the intake or moves to the exhaust lifters.

bowtie44s · Newbie Joined: 13 May 2012 Posts: 16 772.34 points

I hate to move the lifters from the lobe they have been on since The cam is already broke in. I am going to take one out and drain the oil out and set the valve then prime the pump. If that doesn't work I'll try it.

Paul P · Posted: Wed May 16, 2012 12:33 pm Post subject:

Just do a prime and hand crank test

Big Dave · Posted: Thu May 17, 2012 7:37 pm Post subject:

Opps! Left out the bit about the bench vice when talking about using a 1/4 inch drive rachet socket to compress the lifter. Line them up in a six inch vise and crank it closed. Just don't strain as the oil will come out at a fixed rate of speed.

Big Dave

William Jones · Posted: Thu May 17, 2012 7:41 pm Post subject:

Have you checked the part# on the lifters is it possible they sent you solid lifters?

Bam

Paul P · Posted: Thu May 17, 2012 8:08 pm Post subject:

Good idea take one of each apart and see if the internals are the same. The fact that you have all 8 intakes doing this and not the exhaust is what i see as the key here. That is why I say swap just 1 intake and 1 exhaust lifter as a quick test.

af2 · Posted: Thu May 17, 2012 8:16 pm Post subject: