The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Photo link of newly aquired Hydraulic Lifters for '57 235 and a question

Here's a photo of the lifters obtained from EGGE. Note the hole in the top of the lifter. Scroll back to see photos of the originals which didn't have the hole and that were obviously not reconditioned as the engine remanufacturer stated.

Tom Langdon, The Stovebolt Engine Co., mentioned to me during a phone conversation that one of the main reasons for lifter noise was air in the system and the lack of purging of it by oil at the top of the lifters. He said that some of the old timers would grind a slot about 5mm deep in the side of the lifter, from the oil annulus to the top, to allow galley oil to by-pass the body/bore and purge the top of the lifter See description here . Could this be a "new" design to overcome that problem, or just the same as a SBC to provide lubrication through a hollow pushrod to the rockers? Of course I realize that it would also provide better lubrication between the face and pushrod and that the pushrod on the 235 is solid core but does anyone foresee any problems associated with this design in the 235?

Maybe, hopefully, it will result in a purr rather than a clickedy clackedy noise.

Don

The side hole lets the oil in, and the top hole lets some oil and any air out. The pushrod regulates how much oil gets out, but it is lubed by the oil running down it from the head. Those lifters are similar to more modern designs and should work better if the oil pump sucks air.

I think the side slot is a bad idea, since you could starve the cam bearings and top end for oil by doing that.

Thanks for the link. Looking at it I also realized that I had seen it in addition to hearing it firsthand from Tom. I edited the original post to include the link.

4onthefloor - I agree with your comments completely. Just needed a little hand holding here.

It would seem to me that simply drilling a small hole in the top of the lifter would be a better fix that attempting to grind a slot on the side.

I'll get back to this thread once the engine is back together and running for an update.

Don

Don,

The lifter is VERY hard...it's hardened. It would be a chore to drill a hole in it. Grinding is the perfect operation for a hardened item. I'm not totally sure where this shallow slot is ground, but it sounds like it 'vents' any trapped air to the lifter bore (atmosphere) before it even gets into the lifter.

I have never heard this theory of air getting trapped inside a lifter but I'm just a greasy old Millwright.

Stuart

I should have thought of that but oftentimes the simplest answers are the hardest.

Thanks