The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Solid lifters to Hydraulic

Pretty much giving up on the 53 block started tearing down a 55 block, plan on swapping pistons rods and bearings into the 55 if it checks out ok with plastigauge. It has solid lifters can I replace the cam with a new cam and hydraulic lifters? I am assuming that I'll have to use different push rods because the ones for the solid lifters are shorter.

Be sure the newer block is drilled end to end through the lifter bores to supply oil to the lifters. Early passenger car 235's with Powerglide transmissions had blocks drilled for hydraulics- - - - -standard shift cars and truck engines were not drilled for hydraulic lifter oiling.
Jerry

Just to add to what Jerry said, all blocks starting in 1958 are drilled.

And, all 235 car engines from 1956 onwards had hydraulic lifters (manual and Powerglide transmssions).

Just my 2 cents,but according to Patrick's,(in the "Links" section),they do not recommend hydraulic lifters,because,in their opinion,they haven't found any aftermarket sets,that would hold-up.I think they're talking everyday driving,not just performance applications. http://www.patricksantiquecars.com/articles.html Their number is:1-(520)836-1104,during business hours. Here is their E-Mail address: [email protected] Talk to either Patrick Dykes,or his son,Phillip,and they'll tell you the facts. I was going to buy a beehive remote oil filter,and the hose kit,but they talked me out of it!! They lost a sale,worth more than $250.00!! These guys are honest!! Hope this helps.

I put hydraulic lifters in every 235 that I work on, and is drilled for them, with no problems, as long as you follow the steps outlined in my Blog.

If one had a way of drilling the lifter gallery, could hydraulic lifters be adapted to a 216 engine, like the 1950-52 low pressure Powerglide engines??
John

I have a test engine that is not drilled that I am running hydraulic lifters in and so far it works great. I blocked the oil fill port on the side of each lifters so oil would not leak out. I then pre-filled them. I also cut a slot across the bottom of each push rod so oil coming down each push rod can enter them to keep them topped of in case any oil wicks out of the lifters.
I have only run this engine on a stand but I plan on testing it in a vehicle one of these days. If this works I can put hydraulic lifters in any 1929-62 Chev six.
I did buy a drill bit for the very reason of drilling blocks but I have not done that yet but it could be done.

gene beck told me he used an exterior manifold to provide oil to hydraulics in a non-drilled block. Not sure where he tapped into to feed it, but it is one solution.

It should be possible to set up a drilling jig on an engine block similar to the "deep hole" drilling procedure used for drilling the hole in a rifle barrel blank. It involves a long guide sleeve and a relatively small diameter drill bit to make a pilot hole (maybe 1/4" or so) followed by a series of larger bits with a pilot shank, or a special drill bit that is pulled, not pushed through the original hole. The setup time for the first block would be considerable, but the rest of them would be a pretty simple operation.
Jerry

Of course you'd need a hydraulic cam for a 216, which never existed....
John

Running a hydraulic lifter on a solid lifter cam will increase the duration and lift slightly, as the valve will start to lift while the lifter is on the clearance ramp, and will not close fully until after the lifter leaves the ramp on the heel of the lobe. Acceleration/deceleration ramps on hydraulic cams are there, just much shorter and steeper than solid lifter cams. One of the hottest street engines I ever built was in a 55 Chevy 265 with a 56 Corvette "078" solid lifter shaft with hydraulic lifters on it- - - -way before I knew any better than to do something like that!
Jerry

I always here that you can not run hydraulic lifters on a mechanical cam, ramp design...
This is most likely important on higher lift cams but on a stock grind 216/235 cam it seems to make little difference.
I have a few customers that have been running hydraulic lifters on solid 235 cams for years with no problems.