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| | | | Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 2 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 2 | Can I do a direct swap of hydraulic lifters for solids in my L6 250? It is out of a 72 impala. I do not know if the cam is stock, but I suspect it is.
I'm new to the L6 and couldn't find any posts that previously addressed this situation.
rcaster | | | | | Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 427 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 427 | No, It will need a solid lifter cam also. If you put solid lifters on a hydraulic cam it will chew it up fast. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,703 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,703 | | | | | | Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 2 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 2 | I have solids now and want to switch to hydraulics | | | | | Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,708 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,708 | rcaster,
I am guessing you have the engine torn down enough to know you have solids. A '72 Impala would not have come stock with a solid cam and lifters.
Stuart | | | | | Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 8,597 Riding in the Passing Lane | | Riding in the Passing Lane Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 8,597 | All 250's came with hydraulic lifters. You should not change lifters without changing the cam & vice versa. You might get by for a while but they won't live long.
They say money can't buy happiness. It can buy old Chevy trucks though. Same thing. 1972 Chevy c10 Cheyenne SuperIn the Gallery Forum | | | | | Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 147 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 147 | In addition to all that has been written above, there is no advantage to running solids unless you are building a high revving race engine.
Bob
55 Cameo 396 TH 400 with overdrive
65 Caliente conv
67 BB Caliente conv
67 Mercury 1 Ton
76 GMC 3/4 ton 454ci
84 Buick Turbo Regal
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,814 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,814 | The design of the cam lobe is different. Solid lifter cams have a long, relatively slow area of lift called an "acceleration ramp" that stacks all the parts together (lifter, pushrod, rocker arm and valve stem) before it begins to lift the valve off the seat. The acceleration ramp height just happens to be the same height as the clearance. (.012", etc.) At the other end of the lobe, the same thing happens, a slow, steady deceleration just before the valve contacts the seat, then another ramp to establish the clearance.
If you put hydraulics on a solid shaft, you get a radically longer duration, but no real performance benefit, since the lift is so slight on the ramps. Hydraulic cams have short, fast ramps, because they don't need to take up clearances before lifting the valve.
Jerry
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