My 4.3 has roller lifter, i have new pretty much everything else besides cam and lifters. The machinest said the 4.3's usually don't wear out the lifter and cam so i kept my original ones. When i went to put them back in i noticed my cam had dull spots from where the lifters rode and the lifter had side to side play in the rollers, they didn't roll super smooth (maybe like a worn out roller blade wheel but not like a fresh wheel bearing), they kinda make a tapping noise when you push up on them. Does this mean i need to spend the extra $200 on a cam and lifters?
Semi OT Roller Lifter/ Cam question
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The lifter wear and tapping sound you describe are normal for used lifter. I have rebuilt a couple Chevy engines using the old original roller camshaft, but I installed new lifters. These engine are in vehicles that are used for daily driving. I've also heard that the old roller lifters are OK to re-use. I decided not to risk using the used roller lifters, I figured that new lifters would be expensive /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif insurance from having to replace a possible failed lifter sometime in the future.
dave
dave
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7,409 Posts
WHile your mechanic is kinda right........
If your gonna build a new engine, then build a NEW engine.
If it's just a "freshen up and rebearing/ring" halfa$$ job then it doesn't matter.
ps I'm afraid to ask exactly what is being done on this "rebuild". /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif
If your gonna build a new engine, then build a NEW engine.
If it's just a "freshen up and rebearing/ring" halfa$$ job then it doesn't matter.
ps I'm afraid to ask exactly what is being done on this "rebuild". /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif
all new bearings, rings, block 60 over (had to go that far out), little higher comp pisions, vlave springs, push rods, full valve job, new exhaust guides, new valve seals, freeze plugs, timing chain, oil pump, water pump, i think that's it might have missed soemthing. Dave you shouldn't be affraid on this one, i'm sick of cobbled junk, i'm ready to have a rig that i trust and walks all over most other red heeps.
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Why the higher compression pistions? Without any other mods to go with them all it will do is require a higher grade (=$$) gas.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Your Timing chain, cam and valve train are the heart and lungs of your engine.
The best advice I can give you is new everything is money well spent!
You have a fresh engine, it's worth the extra money not to half ass it now!
Timing chain sets differ in quality wildly!
I've see a 'New' timing chain stretch as much a 3/4" in the first 1,000 miles.
I've see suposed 'Double Roller' timing chains turn into shrapnel in under 1,000 miles.
I've seen supposedly 'Reuseable' roller lifters loose bearings, rollers and axles in under 1,000 miles. (ask any engine builder that deals with a lot of 5.0 mustangs)
Buy your timing set and valve train set from a GOOD QUALITY MANUFACTURER.
CRANE, EDELBROCK, COMP CAMS...
Buy a MATCHED SET. Try not to get one piece here, and one piece there.
There is no such thing as a 'Reliable Used Camshaft'.
(If you purchased the camshaft, then it's not used, just seasoned)
Used lifters can only be used in the same engine, on the same camshaft lobes.
NO EXCEPTIONS. Camshaft to lifter wear patterns prevent this.
Some people may have gotten luck with some roller cams, but you can NEVER move or reuse lifters on a flat tappet camshaft.
Don't use 'Used' pushrods in new lifters. Pushrods have hardened ends, and used ones have wear patterns ground into them.
These patterns don't exist on the new lifters, so you automaticly have mismatched parts before you ever start the engine.
Roller tipped rockers are a GREAT idea.
This is a wear issue, and in some cases also a lubrication issue.
The roller tips will keep,
1. Your valve guids from wearing out as quickly, or just as important, keep them from wearing unevenly.
Rollers prevent the rocker arm from trying to drag the valve stem sideways.
2. Some engines, expecally V-8 AMC and small block Ford, have really crappy top end oiling. The roller tips are a low cost alternative to fully sealed roller bearing rocker arms.
3. Saves rebuilding and remanufacturing costs.
Roller tips keep the valve head from mushrooming, smearing, galling, elminating the need for new valves from these problems.
Also, the above, valve guides won't have near as much wear, and may not need to be completely replaced during a 'rebuild'.
(I replace them during a 'Remanufacture' anyway)
4. Smoother valve train movement will keep all the other valve train parts from going to the dogs sooner.
Sockets and fulcrums of the rocker arms, pushrods, and lifters will all benifit from a valve train that isn't working like it has sand in it.
The best advice I can give you is new everything is money well spent!
You have a fresh engine, it's worth the extra money not to half ass it now!
Timing chain sets differ in quality wildly!
I've see a 'New' timing chain stretch as much a 3/4" in the first 1,000 miles.
I've see suposed 'Double Roller' timing chains turn into shrapnel in under 1,000 miles.
I've seen supposedly 'Reuseable' roller lifters loose bearings, rollers and axles in under 1,000 miles. (ask any engine builder that deals with a lot of 5.0 mustangs)
Buy your timing set and valve train set from a GOOD QUALITY MANUFACTURER.
CRANE, EDELBROCK, COMP CAMS...
Buy a MATCHED SET. Try not to get one piece here, and one piece there.
There is no such thing as a 'Reliable Used Camshaft'.
(If you purchased the camshaft, then it's not used, just seasoned)
Used lifters can only be used in the same engine, on the same camshaft lobes.
NO EXCEPTIONS. Camshaft to lifter wear patterns prevent this.
Some people may have gotten luck with some roller cams, but you can NEVER move or reuse lifters on a flat tappet camshaft.
Don't use 'Used' pushrods in new lifters. Pushrods have hardened ends, and used ones have wear patterns ground into them.
These patterns don't exist on the new lifters, so you automaticly have mismatched parts before you ever start the engine.
Roller tipped rockers are a GREAT idea.
This is a wear issue, and in some cases also a lubrication issue.
The roller tips will keep,
1. Your valve guids from wearing out as quickly, or just as important, keep them from wearing unevenly.
Rollers prevent the rocker arm from trying to drag the valve stem sideways.
2. Some engines, expecally V-8 AMC and small block Ford, have really crappy top end oiling. The roller tips are a low cost alternative to fully sealed roller bearing rocker arms.
3. Saves rebuilding and remanufacturing costs.
Roller tips keep the valve head from mushrooming, smearing, galling, elminating the need for new valves from these problems.
Also, the above, valve guides won't have near as much wear, and may not need to be completely replaced during a 'rebuild'.
(I replace them during a 'Remanufacture' anyway)
4. Smoother valve train movement will keep all the other valve train parts from going to the dogs sooner.
Sockets and fulcrums of the rocker arms, pushrods, and lifters will all benifit from a valve train that isn't working like it has sand in it.
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