Lifter refacing

-

oldkimmer

FABO Gold Member
FABO Gold Member
Joined
Nov 11, 2006
Messages
23,973
Reaction score
8,153
Location
Kindersley, Saskatchewan,
Idk anything about the process. I heard they grind the face. Can this be done on a lathe? Or on a valve grinding machine. I know u can dress the valve tips but I’m lost from there. Thanks for the insight. Kim
 
I believe they resurface them on a machine specifically for that purpose. They typically just take off what's required to get the required face profile. 65'
 
I've used my valve "tip" defacer for all kindsa things. Shortening pushrods, squaring small tube for welding.
I'll try and mess with a few lifters this week .
 
Don't lifters and/or the cam lobes have a specific taper ground into them to promote rotation? The surface also needs to be a specific hardness as well as a specific surface finish. As difficult as it is to break in cams & lifters, it would be very difficult to meet all of the parameters needed to be successful. It would also require the pushrods to be a bit longer.
 
It’s a radius. The only place I’ve found that actually puts the right finish on lifters is Schneider cams. Worth every penny to send them down there and get them done.
 
Good to know, since I picked Schneider from an internet search... I had them reface my mushroom lifters and cam when I built the 451, since some of the lifters weren't turning. Broke in with no problems.
 
We had an attachment that bolted to the right hand side of the valve grinder in the shop I worked at as a kid. It was a Sioux grinder and Sioux attachment. It did a good job, although we only used it once or twice while I was there. Everybody just bought new back then, because the new stuff then was good and not junk like it is now.
 
Oregon Cam Grinding recuts lifters.
I had them do a set of light weight mechanical lifters so I could re use them on a different cam and they were fine.
 
Post #4. The common FT lifter is of cast iron composition & the same hardness right through. You can re-face them more than once as long as they are not too badly cupped. I did some racing in the 70s, changing cams regularly, & used lifters that had been refaced 2-3 times.
 
Don't lifters and/or the cam lobes have a specific taper ground into them to promote rotation? The surface also needs to be a specific hardness as well as a specific surface finish. As difficult as it is to break in cams & lifters, it would be very difficult to meet all of the parameters needed to be successful. It would also require the pushrods to be a bit longer.
If You start with the right pushrods, it'll be fine. If You've shimmed the shafts w/stk.-n/a rockers to minimum preload, You'll likely need to reduce the shims.
There is more than one convex profile, so You need to know what lobe taper is on the cam to get it right. 440 6bbl cams had a "low taper" design..IIRC.
 
Just had two sets of early Hemi lifters done by Oregon Cam. Just sent them two sets of SB solid dumb bells to do.
 
Just remember though, refacing hydraulic lifters means you still have the same old hydraulic plunger with "however many miles" it took to wear the lifter body down. So in the long run it might "not" be worth it.
 
Ive done some with a valve grinder. The 4th time i did so 2 lobes wiped out, filled the motor with metal chips. Complete tear
Apart and rebuild needed. Like the song says "three outta four Ain't bad"
Dont take the chance !
 
Ive done some with a valve grinder. The 4th time i did so 2 lobes wiped out, filled the motor with metal chips. Complete tear
Apart and rebuild needed. Like the song says "three outta four Ain't bad"
Dont take the chance !
So the lifter failed? Were the cams new/used? Valve grinder maybe puts to rough of a finish on the lifter? Kim
 
A local shop did some for a flathead Chrysler engine I built. I could get a NOS cam, but no lifters at the time.

No problems, all went well.
 
So the lifter failed? Were the cams new/used? Valve grinder maybe puts to rough of a finish on the lifter? Kim
New and used cams, refaced liter bottom.
Used the valve stem grinder jig to reface them
I read yrs ago that there was a hardening treatment on the lifters face from the factory.
 
The lifters that I bought were supposedly new. But they are not. They do have a crown on them though. But I wouldnt use them on a new cam. Kim
 
The finish needs to be very fine. Crower used to sell polished lifters, mirror finish. Gives you some idea of the finish reqd.
FT lifters are not hardened. When re-faced using the correct equipment they are as good as or better than virgin lifters. We have proved this in this country because we have been doing this for decades.
 
-
Back
Top