360 hydraulic lifter failure
My .02……
The lifter being soft is not the cause of the low oil pressure.
More likely, the low oil pressure(or whatever is causing the low pressure) is the reason for the soft lifter.
Pump bypass stuck open.
I had a dirty bottom end, it was new when I pulled it out of the junkyard never broke in but I let it sit in the yard in a bag and well.. point is, I ended up using that as a backup short block in between my 340 build and as I was going down the freeway heading to San Diego one day.. I looked down and at highway speed at about 18 PSI.....
Needless to say I got off the freeway and checked everything I could on the outside of the motor. Made a phone call to an older friend of mine who used to race Circle Track , has a lot of experience with stuff like this.. and after talking we both came to the conclusion that the bypass was probably stuck and the only thing to do besides Towing at home.. was if I didn't give a **** about the motor too much just go ahead and wing it up to about 5 or 6 grand in neutral....
Oil pressure came right back up. It was trash in the bypass valve holding it open.
That same engine also had a ticky lifter at first. They were old stock Pioneer brand lifters.
Not hydraulic, but I did just break in a new set of comp solid lifters on an old 528 purple shaft I had laying around for this 340 in my car now. Must have gone through about three of those cams now. One of them ended up with pock marks on one lobe so I replaced it with a new one from Mancini... The next one one of the comp push rods welded balls busted off and the lifter got ping ponged between the tube and the lobe and put a flat spot on it. This third one was a used one I got into parts swap, it was in a 557 box which I was going to actually throw in the stroker years ago... after degree and figured out it was a 528 to put it back in the box for a 575 solid roller instead. That .528 cam is now in my 340.
Those comp lifters have little nics and all kinds of stupid **** with about a third of them but none of them in the contact Zone. I ended up having to buy one new one because one of them did have a nic in the contact Zone. I swear to God when they machine these they must toss them over their shoulder into a bucket. Garbage quality control in that regard. Needless to say the break-in went fine using 120 seat pressure with some 995 Springs, which in my opinion are garbage as well. After break in, oil change and some test n tunes, I pulled the rocker shaft and saw the stars on the valve tips and immediately changed those valve springs out for some doubles- 150/ 340 PSI..that ****** revs through seven grand like nothing , and breaks tires at 60. I can put it to the floor , hit second and go through third... feels like you're a rock skipping on a pond.
Going to be put in a 360 together for my brother here this week and I had decided to buy some eBay hydraulic lifters as I did for my Magnum in my truck. In the truck I had one lifter that's just ticked off and on for the first couple months till it finally stopped and now it runs smooth quiet. Funny thing about that is is I had already blown the entire set out and relieve them because a couple of the wheels didn't roll very smooth. Trash in the lifter seems to be a common thing.
Clean them out 1st...or roll the dice.
Ps, this novel was in the spirit of AJ.lol