Lifters

[tinman64]

Looking for advice, I’ve got my engine together and running but noticed a few of the push rods are not spinning, when re assembling I noticed that the lifters looked new but flat on the cam side, is this normal, I haven’t confirmed one way or another if they are supposed to be flat or domed, i was thinking about trying some new lifters and not having much luck finding , the lifters in this engine are a solid body design, I have seen others that are available but are a different design, they are machined different they have a section of the body is machined out to look like a capital I. Are these useable, I’m not sure what year this engine is or if it matters, it was a complete rebuilt engine a guy had laying around. Any help would be greatly appreciated

[Prowbar]

Do the lifter faces appear to be freshly ground? And does the cam appear reground as well? Some pictures would be nice.

[FetchMeAPepsi]

I can't really help, no serious engine experience...but I do know we have "flat tappet cams", whatever that is. That's why we need to use oils with sulphur in them like Rotella. Or lead in them. I forget

[Phil]

305e

[Phil]

305E Lifters

[Phil]

At-874.
Jb-874.

[BobBray]

You have run the engine? If so, I think at this point I would inspect the lifter faces to see if they are turning, if they are not it will leave an obvious pattern on the face. The lifter should be very slightly convex on the face, the cam lobes are slightly higher on one side and that is what makes the lifter spin so it does not wear. 'Flat tappet' just means it isn't a roller type lifter. If the lifters are all turning, I wouldn't worry too much about the pushrods. I have seen the lifters with the narrow mid-section, I believe they are interchangeable with the more common design. Rockauto has the Melling JB 874's in stock.

[Prowbar]

I tried the JB-874's as well but opted not to use them. They are ground incorrectly as they are flat in the bottom. Put two of them with the faces touching each other and shine a light between them, you'll see these are flat.
The best solution is to regrind the originals (Delta Cam in WA regrinds them, 6-7 dollars per lifter) of have these reground.
The original lifters are the best, they have a hardened base.

[tinman64]

Thanks for the help guys, the lifters I have used in other engines in the past were all convex, the lifters that came with this engine appeared to be flat that is what had me concerned, I’m up in Canada so I will try to find a source to have my lifters re surfaced or find a source for new convex lifters just not too eager to pay $600 for a set.

[Prowbar]

Originally Posted by tinman64

Thanks for the help guys, the lifters I have used in other engines in the past were all convex, the lifters that came with this engine appeared to be flat that is what had me concerned, I’m up in Canada so I will try to find a source to have my lifters re surfaced or find a source for new convex lifters just not too eager to pay $600 for a set.

Have them reground, that is your best and most economical bet.