valve lifters mixed up

[username]

Long time reader, first time writer here. So I just got my 351E from the shop. Valve job, machined, new bearings, all pretty and ready of assembly. Problem is they gave me the solid valve lifters in bag unmarked. Engine had 54,000 miles on it. Question is am I resigned to getting new lifters or is the cam heavy duty enough to adapt to lifters being placed in different locations?

[tbucketnut]

If they reground the cam and refaced the lifters you are golden otherwise all bets are off, IMHO.

[jagarra]

I checked in my factory GMC service manual and even in the disassembly of the motor no mention is made to keep the lifters in any order. There was no special mention of anything about lifters in the assembly section either, just a hazard caution if a sodium filled valve was broken.

[username]

thanks, guys. As usual, better safe than sorry.

[James]

Originally Posted by username

Long time reader, first time writer here. So I just got my 351E from the shop. Valve job, machined, new bearings, all pretty and ready of assembly. Problem is they gave me the solid valve lifters in bag unmarked. Engine had 54,000 miles on it. Question is am I resigned to getting new lifters or is the cam heavy duty enough to adapt to lifters being placed in different locations?

It been my experience if the lifters were not mark to their location and you put them back in the block it will eat the cam and lifter. To prove my point look at the face of the lifter. You will see different wear pattern. Putting a mismatched lifter with a cam lobe will generate metal then you will be back tearing down the engine again.

I recommend getting new lifters and letting Egge reground the old ones. https://egge.com/

[tbucketnut]

I agree, even to the point of having the cam cleaned up as well.
I have used Delta Cam in Tacoma Wa. http://www.deltacam.com/ for forty years and recently had a solid lifter Chev. 261 cam reground and lifters resurfaced, it was cheap.

Steve