The Stovebolt Site Forums Project Journals Project Journals 1953 Chevy 3100 - Restoring the Basketcase

Mike - I am in the process of getting a 261 rebuilt and ran across a no longer usable cam and original style "milk can" solid lifters. Both worn super bad and even pitted to the point they weren't likely to be salvaged without a lot of $$$ thrown at them.

Anyhow, I purchased a new CSS-1 Cam and then struggled to find new solid lifter to go with the cam. In my searching, I found that the guys at 12bolt.com offered new "solid" lifters" so went ahead and ordered them. Much to my surprise when opening the box, I found what looked like short "hydraulic" style looking lifters, so called Tom at 12bolt. Turns out these lifters, even though they look like hydraulic, are in fact solid style lifters and will work for our truck engines just fine. They do require the use of longer 12-1/4" push rods (in my application) to make up the height difference when switching from the original milk can lifters. But that shouldn't affect your engine as it looks to have similar lifters (likely an early replacement style solid lifter) and the correct length push rods.

Below are some pictures of the new "solid" lifters from 12bolt.com and a comparison shot of the old vs new lifters and push rods to show the height compensation by the longer push rods.

Hope this might be of some help.

PS - If you push down on the center of the existing lifter, if it's hydraulic it will slowly collapse down inside itself. If it doesn't collapse, it's a solid lifter. You might try it with one of the other lifters that isn't all corroded up to do this test. Also look for a "oil filler/bleed hole" in the side of the lifter recess channel. If no filler/bleed hole, not hydraulic.