Hello all

I need some help/guidance, has anyone ever replaced just a single lifter with an old cam,true mileage of engine /cam is unknown.

not sure what could have caused the lifter surface problem, cam does not look to have been affected , not sure how long this lifter has been this way.

Thanks in advance
Pat

 

Probably sat for a while, did you check the others? You can replace it with a new one.

 

thanks for the reply , all the other lifters are fine??

 

"They say" you can put new lifters on an old cam, but not the other way around.

 

Just replacing that one will not solve your problem. I'm sure the lobe that lifter was on is bad also. It will just wipe out the lifter again.

Gene

 

I would be reluctant to replace just one lifter. I thought they all needed to be replaced together.

 

Have replaced lifters without replacing the cam and it has worked without any problems. Look at the cam lobes and other lifters very closely for similar wear and if you do find some then I would replace them all. Read that the others were fine, were you able to examine them really well? If the others do look excellent then you can replace just one.

An easy way to examine lifters is to place another lifter perpendicular as a straight edge across the bottom tappet surface to check for straightness. IMHO if the tappet surface is flat, not discolored, the lifters did not tap and has zero pitting then re-use is fine.

 

I did this with my small block. For some reason (maybe poor quality) I had a lifter go bad and cause an oil pressure problem. I replaced said lifter and it worked fine.

 

It look's like a part of the cam lobe is missing! Am I wrong here? Maybe it's a reflection in the picture.

If the lobe is damaged, the cam is gone.

Stanley

 

You can change that one lifter but in the long run will find out that the cam is bad.

 

If you do start pulling them to check,
and do decide to reuse them, make sure
they go back in the same hole they came
out of.

 

Thank you all for the valuable input and observations , as for the the cam that Oldwolf mentioned looked damaged(shrp eye) what he saw is the shadow/reflection from the empty valve lfter bore, as I removed the lifter to take a picture, all the lobes look good on the cam, no other lifters had any issues.
I will roll the dice for a $7.90 lifter and reassemble. MD weather is not nice right now, so engine will be shrink wrapped for now, I will update the thread after fire up , Happy Holidays to all

 

Back in the day, I'd do that and it always worked. Seems like everything worked back then. (1960's/70's) Money was tight. Dial indicator can tell you how much lobe wear. Coat the new lifter with assembly lube. Jmo, Ken

 

good tip..assembly lube from permatex, sealed power lifter HT-951 7.90, local hard parts house had part in one day, planning on coating all pushrod ends and lifter cups with assembly lube as well as base remaining lifters, I did remove and reinsatll all lifters in same position when completing inspection, I was able to get the cam part # from the shaft 40134 (lunati???)

 

In general, if the lifter foot is not still slightly crowned, the lobe is worn. Another big issue is: where did the metal go? If the cam gets wiped, metal could end up in the bearings and piston skirts.

 

point taken, I looked at the lifter and noted a ever so slight crown under the area where metal is missing.
I have removed the oil pan, oil pick up cleaned no metal shavings noted , I removed 1 crank bearing cap and rod bearing for inspection and did not note any major issues.
thx

 

Glad just replacing the lifter worked, but you have been given notice that you will need a new cam in the not too distant future.


Roger.

 

If it really is a lunati 40134, that's an odd cam for "a regular ol' "convertible cruiser.

244/254 @.050 .532/.552, 106

Whatcha got under the hood?

 

well I do not have a lot of history on the motor, purchased locally, I was planning on stock intake with Q jet. we will see

 

Wow, if you went through all off that, why not just replace the cam and lifters, and the timing chain and be done with it. Of course I would still go further at that point. But that's me.