Valve lash help

[71scamp78]

Ok bought a car that's been sitting ahwile and I'm not sure if it has a solid roller or hydraulic. The valve lash needs adjustment so I took the valve cover off and loosened a rocker and looked at pushrod as well. Pushrod has is hollow I always thought big blocks didn't oil through pushrods. How do I know if I have a solid or hydraulic lifters and how to set them . This is a 440 and has comp push rods and comp roller rockers so probably a comp cam to

 

[TT5.9mag]

Push down on the purshrod side of the rocker arm with some force. Steady hard pressure with your hand and maybe a shop towel between it and the rocker. You’ll be able to feel if the lifter plunger depresses if it’s been sting a while. If it does it’s hydraulic. If it’s a solid cam it won’t depress at all. Adjustment procedure for each is vastly different.

 

[71scamp78]

Push down on the purshrod side of the rocker arm with some force. Steady hard pressure with your hand and maybe a shop towel between it and the rocker. You’ll be able to feel if the lifter plunger depresses if it’s been sting a while. If it does it’s hydraulic. If it’s a solid cam it won’t depress at all. Adjustment procedure for each is vastly different.

Well it's been started some since I got it..if the lifters are all pumped up they may not depress at all..what's the easiest way to adjust the hydraulic lifters..

 

[TT5.9mag]

You can also look down the pushrod tunnel with a flashlight at the top of the lifter. If you see a circlip or snap ring it’s a hydraulic. Solids won’t have em.
The way to adjust a hydraulic is to set preload. Not lash. The plunger in the lifter needs to be slightly compressed while the lifter is on the base circle of the cam. So get the lifter on the base circle, lightly tighten the adjuster while rotating/wiggling the pushrod (a light touch is needed) until there is no lash, ie all the play is gone. Then rotate the adjuster another 1/2 to 3/4 of a turn. Most hydraulic lifters need about .030-.080 of preload depending on the manufacturer of the lifter.

 

[71scamp78]

You can also look down the pushrod tunnel with a flashlight at the top of the lifter. If you see a circlip or snap ring it’s a hydraulic. Solids won’t have em.
The way to adjust a hydraulic is to set preload. Not lash. The plunger in the lifter needs to be slightly compressed while the lifter is on the base circle of the cam. So get the lifter on the base circle, lightly tighten the adjuster while rotating/wiggling the pushrod (a light touch is needed) until there is no lash, ie all the play is gone. Then rotate the adjuster another 1/2 to 3/4 of a turn. Most hydraulic lifters need about .030-.080 of preload depending on the manufacturer of the lifter.

Ok I'll have to make sure what lifters I'm dealing with. I'll pull a cover off and see if I can see. A snap ring in there..I'm almost thinking I didn't see one last time covers was off and I pulled out push rod..still curious why they would use hollow push rods instead of solid pushrods

 

[TT5.9mag]

Who built the engine?

 

[69FBCuda]

Pictures would go a longgg way..................

 

[71scamp78]

Who built the engine?

No idea car was bought in an estate sell..just been awhile since I adjusted valves about 20 years lol..trying to get pic now

 

[TT5.9mag]

No idea car was bought in an estate sell..just been awhile since I adjusted valves about 20 years lol..trying to get pic now

Ok, I wouldn’t worry too much about the hollow pushrods, just figure out if it’s a hydraulic or a solid, adjust them accordingly and run it. The hollow pushrod will just move a little more oil up top which might be needed for the rockers depending on what they are.

 

[71scamp78]

Best pic I can get

 

[71scamp78]

Comp steel roller rockers

 

[PRH]

Those are roller lifters.

If it’s a solid, then there should be clearance/free play between the rocker and the valve when the valve is fully closed.

Though, It’s likely a hyd roller cam.

 

[71scamp78]

Yeah I know it's a roller just was curious if it's a solid or hydraulic..need to adjust them..thanks..just curious what to do

 

[71scamp78]

How do I adjust the hydraulic ones

 

[TT5.9mag]

How do I adjust the hydraulic ones

See post 4

 

[33IMP]

You pulled a valve cover. If it's a solid, some of the valves should have some lash, maybe half. If the closed valves don't have discernable lash, it's a hydraulic.

 

[71scamp78]

Went back out with a flashlight and turned off all other lights..I don't see any retainers for hydraulic lifters

 

[71scamp78]

Here is a good pic forgot I took one when I changed intakes.

 

[TT5.9mag]

You pulled a valve cover. If it's a solid, some of the valves should have some lash, maybe half. If the closed valves don't have discernable lash, it's a hydraulic.

Unless the previous owner incorrectly adjusted them.

 

[PRH]

It’s simple enough.
Hyd lifters bleed down from sitting with spring load on them.
After that motor has sat for a bit, look for a valve that’s close to full lift.

Rotate the engine over until that valve is fully closed.
Now push down on the pushrod side of the rocker.
If the lifter has a little “give” to it, it’s a hyd.
If it has zero give, they’re solid.

If solid, at that point the determination needs to be made as to whether it’s a “solid lifter cam”, or a hyd lifter cam that someone was unhappy with the lifter function, and swapped to solid lifters(adjusted to near zero lash).

If the lifters are indeed solid, and you can find no valves that have any type of normal lash........ then it’s possible that’s what you have going on.

 

[TT5.9mag]

Also a quick and easy way to know is to adjust it like a hydraulic. 1/2-3/4 turn past zero. If it’s a solid it either won’t run (no compression) or it will crash all the valves in to the pistons. But you’ll know.
Disclaimer; this is a joke don’t do this.

 

[71scamp78]

Well good news I definitely just confirmed they are hydraulic..was able to push down and see lifter plunger go in

 

[71scamp78]

It’s simple enough.
Hyd lifters bleed down from sitting with spring load on them.
After that motor has sat for a bit, look for a valve that’s close to full lift.

Rotate the engine over until that valve is fully closed.
Now push down on the pushrod side of the rocker.
If the lifter has a little “give” to it, it’s a hyd.
If it has zero give, they’re solid.

If solid, at that point the determination needs to be made as to whether it’s a “solid lifter cam”, or a hyd lifter cam that someone was unhappy with the lifter function, and swapped to solid lifters(adjusted to near zero lash).

If the lifters are indeed solid, and you can find no valves that have any type of normal lash........ then it’s possible that’s what you have going on.

Definitely hydraulic finally comfirmed