The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop solid lifters

I've got a small block 350 in my 59 and the guy I got the truck from told me that it has solid lifters and a hot cam(unknown brand /spec.s)....the motor works good but it's a little noisy. I've done rocker adjustment on the 194 -6 in my '62 Nova(hyd lifters) and if I remember right you just crank down on the rocker stud nuts until excess lash is eliminated. Some sources I've seen say that with solid lifters this needs adjusting more often, do I use the same method (basically by ear) or are the solids just inherently more noisy and I should just get over it?? :confused:

Solid lifters are going to make more noise.

You don't adjust solid lifters the same way you do the hydraulics. The proper way requires using a feeler guage to set the gap when the valve is in the closed position.

I've no idea what the specs or exact procedure is for a sbc.

59Chief,

My '62 Vette has solids and the procedure is to set them with the engine hot and idling. An old valve cover with the top cut off helps with the oil running onto the exhaust manifolds. Recommended interval is 5,000 miles. The lash on my 327 - 340HP is .008 (hot) on the intake and .018 (hot) on the exhaust.

The sound effects from the solid lifters is definitely part of the experience.

On some engines that solids keep tapping noisely the rocker arm stud could be working out and need to pin them! That is if you continue to have the problem!

Thanks OldSub,OlBlue,& A.chipmunk. I was wondering if the lift / duration of the cam would make a diff. on the clearance?
Thanks Again,
Jeff

Most cam manufacturers specify what the lash should be.... If you don't know what the cam is, I'd suggest checking a few different specs and aim for the middle ground. The exhaust always has more lash than the intake (due to more thermal expansion)