Best lifters for my 1965 273

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crashcaptn

crashcaptn

1965 Dodge Dart GT
Joined
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San Diego, CA
I have some valve train noise and i'll be putting in a new set of lifters. I was just about to hit PURCHASE on a set of Summit Racing SUM-HT2011 hydraulic lifters, but thought I'd ask the experts first.

Whats the best lifters to use in my 65 273?
 
crashcaptn said:
I have some valve train noise and i'll be putting in a new set of lifters. I was just about to hit PURCHASE on a set of Summit Racing SUM-HT2011 hydraulic lifters, but thought I'd ask the experts first.

Whats the best lifters to use in my 65 273?
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Hi, Small point, but are you sure your 273 is running a Hyd Cam ?? I guess to answer your qstn : lowest cost set of Brand name - Sealed Pwr, Melling, Delphi are good; Isky is top $ but top notch.
Before you pull all the lifters, see if ALL the Lifters are rotating about 1/8th-1/4 turn in their bores with eng rotating & that your getting pretty much full lift out of all 16 Cam lobes, in case you've got a lobe going soft (unless you've done that already) or a new lifter on a Cam lobe thats lost its ground taper (& therefore ability to rotate ) will soon go the way of what your pulling . Just a heads up if you didn't know.
Cheers.Trev.
 
A 65 273 has solid lifters, adjust them solids always make a little noise. If your 273 now has hydraulic lifters lifters and you are looking for replacements I suggest Rhodes.
 
crashcaptn said:
oh thanks guys - yeah its a commando 273 stock.. good thing i didn't hit purchase!
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No worries: pausing often pays off. To further answer your lifter qstn ( for others ) Enginetechs are probably the most cost effective, often upto 1/2 cost of say Sealed power etc, although I see instead of made in Brazil or Mexico Common ones are coming through now labelled made in PRC ( peoples Repub China ) = Taiwan but I've never had a Problem with Taiwanese made goods (that's where they made the "Made in Japan Honda Super Cub 50cc C100's & the follow on Honda C50's etc + others, in their droves)
IF its the 235hp 4bbl 273 & its low mileage'ish, it has the hi perf Cam in it, not to be discarded without forethought.
Trev.
 
high.rev.trev said:
No worries: pausing often pays off. To further answer your lifter qstn ( for others ) Enginetechs are probably the most cost effective, often upto 1/2 cost of say Sealed power etc, although I see instead of made in Brazil or Mexico Common ones are coming through now labelled made in PRC ( peoples Repub China ) = Taiwan but I've never had a Problem with Taiwanese made goods (that's where they made the "Made in Japan Honda Super Cub 50cc C100's & the follow on Honda C50's etc + others, in their droves)
IF its the 235hp 4bbl 273 & its low mileage'ish, it has the hi perf Cam in it, not to be discarded without forethought.
Trev.
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It is and has about 47,000 original miles. Did a top end rebuild but i have some lifter noise and thought a new set would be a good way to go. Still think so - just solid lifters instead.. Any advice on which ones to get that would be best for my application?
 
I'd leave well enough alone. A motor with 47000 miles on it shouldn't need lifters. Adjust your valves to the proper clearances and you'll be fine.273's are pretty rugged motors .
 
crashcaptn said:
It is and has about 47,000 original miles. Did a top end rebuild but i have some lifter noise and thought a new set would be a good way to go. Still think so - just solid lifters instead.. Any advice on which ones to get that would be best for my application?
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Do as the other fellow suggested & try resetting the lash on your adjustable rockers 1st, if your having a bit of job doing that & it hasn't been done: you may need your rocker screws that contact the valvestems defacing, I've learnt they take a bit of a durability beating, if not done, you'll find it hard to get the valve gaps to accept an accurate gap, although using a 'wire' type gauge meant for settingvplug gaps can be an extra help.
Try NAPA 1st for the solids set & see if they've got some USA made Melling,Sealed Power,TRW, Delphi (OEM), etc maybe even nos or the Summits should be OK but in-house brand theres a chance they could be Asian, unless someone knows better.
Just go with what looks like your originals & suits your budget & availability.
Cheers T.
 
Good info here - thanks everyone.. just reviewing old pictures of the top end rebuild.. i dont remember if i ever did adjust my rockers.. not sure i even realized they had an adjustment at all.

Thanks!

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Yep. I hope you put the rocker shafts back on where they came off.. The shafts and bolts are picky where they go so the rockers get oil. Use search here to read up on rocker adjustment as well. You have some learning to do.
 
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crashcaptn said:
Good info here - thanks everyone.. just reviewing old pictures of the top end rebuild.. i dont remember if i ever did adjust my rockers.. not sure i even realized they had an adjustment at all.

Thanks!

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Hi, IF your still bent on changing the lifters I went & had a quick snoop around: see pic/s with prices below. As further up says at 47,000 miles shouldn't really need lifters, but timing chain is cheap enough to put a new 1 in at same time at $10.
Let us know how you get on with that "valvetrain noise" ?...(After you've done a rockerarm lash readjustment to shop specs, at least: 0.001"=3° Cam Duration)
Cheers T.

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Don't replace the lifters!!!!!!! Unless you have a cam lobe wiped, you just need a valve adjustment. Trust me. And don't worry about the rocker arms needing resurfaced. My 100,000 mile HP 273 didn't need re-machining and I'll bet yours doesn't either.
 
Search term EOIC to read everything you need to know about valve adjust.
 
LOL... I got the '62 Dart pictured in my avatar and the valves were noisy.... 59k original miles, and the valves looked to have NEVER been adjusted! Makes all the difference in the world....
 
on resurfacing the rockers
no need unless you put in a bigger cam where the valve stem tip would have to ride up on the wear ridge
if that is the case very large forces come into play and longevity is compromised- sometimes very
same problem on the pushrod side
take a look with a magnifying glass next time you inspect old rockers
bvvc jumping to roller rockers
they have to be dialed in as to geometry (easiest is with a B3 kit) or as with drugs- they have "side effects"
 
Good call everyone. I just went through and read everything - i'll leave those lifters alone and do a rocker arm adjustment. Planning on doing it tomorrow morning. I'll inform how it goes!
 
OH i almost forgot. Did a rocker arm adjustment and my god.. what a difference. I didnt realize how loud that could be. I just thought i had an exhaust leak or something. That engine sounds incredible.. i also did a quick vacuum check and saw that i was sending full vacuum to my distributor. Those two adjustments made the car act completely different. Timing, carb adjustment, and boom.. i'm a new man
 
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