There is no need to soak the lifters in oil. There is no need to try and fill the lifter with oil. Lube the bottom with Cam break in lube (moly difsufide grease) and oil the sides (lifter body and lifter bore) and pushrod seat with engine oil. Install and set the lifter plunger preload (.030-.060") approx 1/2 turn past "0 lash" with the cam on the heal of the lobe.
The lifters will fill with oil upon start up, all by themselves.

Thanks, I was just concerned about how to set pre-load with empty lifters (or if that had any bearing on things). I'd rear posts where some people had suggested that setting pre-load on empty lifters can cause a bent pushrod once the lifters have filled-up, but that may have been mis-information.

 

I agree about soaking the lifters, not worth the effort. I do absolutely beleive in pre oiling the eng which will include the lifters. you will wipe off the lube on the lifters trying to get it to fire without a pre oil. use a store bought pre lube ,or make your own out of an old dist.I guess you are talking about a sbc.you need oil in the lifters to set the valves.

 

I guess you are talking about a sbc.you need oil in the lifters to set the valves.

This is NOT correct. The lifters can be adjusted without oil in them quite accurately. Use the up & down motion on the pushrod to detect when you have reached '0' clearance and then tighten down 1/4-1 turn additional. I use 1/2 turn.

If you try adjusting the lifters with or without oil by 'spinning' the pushrod until you feel resistance and thinking that is '0' clearance you can easily have actually bottomed out the lifter. The pushrod will still be able to be rotated even when bottomed out. Don't believe that? Try it for yourself and see.

Pre-oiling the lifters is not necessary. Lubing the bases and mating surfaces as suggested above is excellent. Priming the oil pump and pressurizing the oil passages should always be performed before firing the engine for best results.

Read the pdf file below or go HERE for info.

 

I'm learning about adjusting lifters and such from my old, shade-tree method of a running engine. I was instructed, to watch for the bottom side of lifters, where both are on the zero, raise rocker and tighten till it touches (please bear with my un-professional wording) then tighten 3/4 of a turn. They also told me that I didn't have to soak the lifters, but to be sure to prime oil prior to starting. These are anti pump up lifters. If I'm incorrect on this , please advise. You guys are saying 1/4 to 1/2 turn.

Sorry if It seems I'm trying to "hijack" the thread, far from my intentions, I'm trying to add my 2 cents as well reassure myself of what I may need to do. It's a sbc if you're wondering. Engine was built, but I had to adjust the lifters myself.

The instructions I've seen on performance shows also have said to do it this method, and turn about 1/2, but he prefers 3/4 on his engines.

I do have a question tho, after priming engine, could we not rotate engine manually to check for obstruction or tolerances? Meaning, is it wise to do this to see if everything rotates fine? or too much turning of the motor even after priming?

Dewayne.

 

You should always put break in lube on the base of the lifter and the cam during assembly, then prelube the engine. Follow the cam manufacturers recommendations to the letter. After the valves are adjusted, be sure to follow the cam manufacturers break in procedure. I think the last one I did, a Comp Cam, said to run the engine at 2000 rpm for 10 minutes. You will make or break your cam life in the first 20 minutes of engine running. The idea of moving the the pushrod up and down is a good way to find freeplay. What I usually do is
adjust the valves with the intake manifold off. I always presoak my lifters for about 20 minutes, just personal preference, prelube the engine, then I position a light to shine on the oil film on the top of the lifter. I watch for movement of the lifter plunger in the oil film as I slowly tighten the adjuster nut. When I see a little movement I check the position of my ratchet handle then tighten another 1/2 to 1 turn depending on manufacturers specs. I know that's a little anal and it takes a little extra time, but I never had one come back to bite me.