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Jul 21st, 2025 | | | | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 145 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 145 | I have a ’58 235 with solid lifters. Is it possible to install hydraulic lifters in place of the solids? If so, what else must I do? Anything? Or will the rockers and pushrods work with the hydraulics?
Oh no!! This probably should have been posted in the "Engine/Driveline" section
Thruwurkin
Kennewick, WA
Half Ton Will Travel
God bless America...One nation under God
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,733 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,733 | I'm pretty sure the 235 truck blocks were drilled
through for hydraulic lifters in 58' so there should be no problem with using them. It would be wise however to look for a hole in the lifter cavity to be certain. You'd want to use new pushrods anyway and the rockers are the same. I had no problem using a 55' block. I assume your going to also replace the camshaft. | | | | | Joined: May 2004 Posts: 351 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: May 2004 Posts: 351 | My 62' 235 had hydrolics already in before the rebuild. Could have been a car engine in its previous life. Decided to leave them in. They were in super shape and only required a scosh of machining to flatten them. Haven't heard it run yet
though. | | | | | Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 88 Member | | Member Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 88 | Just check to see that the block is cross-drilled for the hydraulic oiling passages. Not sure what year the truck blocks were available with them (we have a '56 that's not drilled) though. But, why do you want to go to hydraulic in the first place? On the '59 passenger-car engine I'm doing, it'll have solids. | | | | | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 145 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 145 | Originally posted by R.F.:
But, why do you want to go to hydraulic in the first place? I'm not going to go to hydraulics. I'm just curious. Thruwurkin Kennewick, WA
Half Ton Will Travel
God bless America...One nation under God
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 25 Junior Member | | Junior Member Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 25 | Rattletrap,
I believe the bottom of the lifter should be slightly convex so they will rotate when moving
up and down in the lifter bore.
Arnie | | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,971 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,971 | A '58 235 would have had hydraulic lifters. Are you sure it isn't an older engine? | | | | | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 145 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 145 | I ran the numbers on the block it is a '58 truck engine and it has solid lifters. The engine came out of a 1-1/2 ton orchard truck on on a farm near here.
I totally agree with Arnie258 in that the bottom of the lifter must be convex so that they will rotate.
RF, where do I look to see if the block is cross drilled? I don't have a clue.
Thruwurkin
Kennewick, WA
Half Ton Will Travel
God bless America...One nation under God
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 88 Member | | Member Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 88 | Inside the lifter bores, you'll see the small oil galleys the length of the block. | | | | | Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 608 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 608 | As I Remember,The oil passage is drilled thru the side of the Lifter Bore,From front to back. | | | | | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 | Hydraulic lifters were a mid-year change in '56,
but the way I understand it trucks went back to
solids in late '56 to at least '59/60. I could
see a hydraulic cam engine finding it's way into
a light truck if production was behind though.
Bill Burmeister
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 76 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 76 | If that engine came from a '58 1 1/2 ton, it may be a 261. Does it have "captains bars" just above the starter? You can't really tell the difference externally between the 235 and the 261 except for the captains bars - and they are true most of the time. The 261 is a much stronger engine, you will be lucky is that is the case. | | | | | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 145 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 145 | Originally posted by Arpee:
The 261 is a much stronger engine, you will be lucky is that is the case. LOL...Murphy's Law. No Capt Bars. By the way, do you know that Murphy is a female? Thruwurkin (Duckin' and runnin') Kennewick, WA
Half Ton Will Travel
God bless America...One nation under God
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