[BOBCRMAN@aol.com]

I read a press release today that stated PRO TOPLINE of Auckland, New Zeeland, and Chicago Ill. has signed a purchase agreement to buy Johnson Hi-lift of Muskegon Mich. they plan on re-opening the lifter plant with all the old personell and equipment, and go back into lifter production.( Johnson was the major aftermkt producer) This should ease the shortage and bring the prices back down

[DoubleVision]

Thanks Bob, I just got a northern catalog in today and it says "Due to a lifter shortage, we are unable to sell lifters seperately or as a set. The current shortage may change. Call for your application and update" I didn`t know anything about this, when I seen it I thought it must be a joke of some kind. thanks for clearing that up.

[RedRocket]

A parts-store guy quoted me a high price on sbc lifters about a month ago (like $6cdn/piece). I assumed he was full of **** when he said there was a shortage. Wild!

[crazy larry]

I'll go there. If You guys owned a Ford, you wouldn't have this problem...... <img src="graemlins/crash.gif" border="0" alt="[crash]" />

[junior]

Ford lovers ...never did find a good one...maybe they like them because of how cheap they are.. <img src="graemlins/spank.gif" border="0" alt="[spank]" />

[crazy larry]

i knew i shouldn'ta but couldn't help myself. i'm weak. but if you wanna talk cheap, look at prices in a jegs catalog. all chevy.

[1BAD80]

I should know better also but, the "all chevy" is because all know "better."

[78 monte]

Hey theres nothing wrong with Fords they make good decrative flower planters.

[ January 23, 2003: Message edited by: 78 monte ]</p>

[chevyman17]

"flower planters" lol, that was great, hey since the lifter shortage is gone, wouldnt that be cool if gas came down too.

[pasadenahotrod]

The local NAPA store advised us of the lifter shortage and said Ford lifters were the ones in shortest supply. Their national warehouse had none on the shelves. We bought 2 sets of overpriced Chevy lifters just to have them for the future. Who can say the NZ company can make a go of it?

[engineguy]

The lifter shortage situation effected ALL lifters (mechanical flat and roller, as well as hydraulic flat and roller), for all makes of domestic vehicles. Bad news is that the Hy-Lift plant is pretty run down and they will be consolidating two plants into the existing main plant in Muskegon. Bad news is that the new owners are estimating that it will be approximately 6 months before the plant is running at capacity. So, the lifter shortage is likely to be with us for awhile longer. The Topline organization is pretty well known in the aftermarket, for doing things right - so I think they will be very successful in this business too.

One problem is that, once prices are raised on any commodity, due to shortages - it is unlikely that the prices will ever go back down to previous levels.

[stonedchihuahua]

So this is why the finely machined hunks of metal are soo expensive..

[BruceZ28]

Doea this tie into NAIRB's post perfectly or not?Now is the time for all hotrodders and car enthusiasts to unite.Rebuild those old lifters and show 'em we don't need no stinkin' new lifters.

[stonedchihuahua]

hey if anyone has solid lifters for a sbc I'd take em... I don't wanna spend money on them but my 400 came without lifters (probably hydrolic if it did) adn my 305 hads hydrolic ones...

[pasadenahotrod]

You should be able to get a set of solid lifters from your local auto parts store. They probably won't have them on the shelf but the warehouse should get them there the next day unless the store is in Bumf**k, Egypt.