[NAIRB]

I'm building a very low budget small block chevy just for fun out of left over parts. I have a good used cam I picked up from a friend, and the original lifters. The lifters are supposed to be in their original order, but I would like to disassemble the lifters, clean them, and re-esatablish a new crown on them. I have a book by David Vizard where he said you can use a surface plate, and some emery cloth, and using a figure 8 pattern you can re-establish a crown on a lifter by hand. I have never done this myself, but would like to give it a try. His instruction on doing this was a little vague. Has anyone tried this with any success? I know new lifters are cheap, but I would like to do this just for sake of doing it.

[KULTULZ]

I could see disassembling, cleaning and bringing back into specs...but I don't see how you could create a crown on the tappet base with emory cloth.

If the cam is low mileage, I would check for wear patterns and just re-use them.

[SLANT SIX]

FOR THE COST OF A NEW CAMSHAFT AND LIFTERS I WOULD BUY NEW.THET WAY YOU WOODENT HAVE TO REPLACE IT LATER. I HEARD THAT USED CAMS ARE NEVER A GOOD DEAL

[BstMech]

I'm kind of doing the same thing with a SBC. Except I'm going the biggest bang for the buck type thing, I've got 993 heads and 0010 shortblock, scrounged up a complete gasket set from leftovers, rings rods mains from leftovers etc. I have an SSI #10312 cam, but no lifters and am really interested in this topic. I have ten bucks in it so far, and I'm figuring Under $200 when complete.

[nitro junkie]

for once I agree with slantsix, its not so much an issue of the inside of a lifter its the bottom
lifters have a wear pattern that matches the cam thay where on re using them would be a wast of time dude, just buy new ones they arnt that expensive

[ssaza]

You are asking for Big problems,Chances are that the cam will go flat by putting a used cam in a motor with non matching lifters.I learned a long time ago,on motors don't take the cheap way out,it will cost you more when you tear down your motor again and buy another cam shaft.gasket,lifters,plus your time.Don't do it!

[78 monte]

Dude,if your rebuilding lifters,its definatly time to get a newspaper and look for a job. Evan I'm not that broke.

[NAIRB]

I want you guys to buy David Vizard's book on rebuilding performance small block chevys on a budget. It can be done. I didn't ask about opinions about it. I'm experimenting here, and definitely going to use the used cam and lifters. The lifters are the matching lifters for the cam I'm using, and they are in order, but I was going to dress a new working surface on the face of the lifter. I'm looking for information, not rhetoric.

[ssaza]

If you have matching lifters now,don't touch the bottom of the lifters,when you alter the mating surface,they become NON matching lifters,thus wiping out the lopes on the cam.

[NAIRB]

Have you ever heard of a tappet grinder?

[nitro junkie]

ok this goes to nairb and bstmech put down the bong and step away from the work bench, used gaskets,bearings,lifters,cams,and timing chains
can not be re instaled,and us warning you is not reteric its sound advice, have eather of you never herd of a wear pattern,for gods sake cut down on the weed and buy a quality engine componet
hell you can buy a performance oriented cam from p.a.w. for $40. if you cant afford this hobby mabby you should look into something else like building log cabins out of popsical sticks

[NAIRB]

[quote]Originally posted by SLANT SIX:
<strong>FOR THE COST OF A NEW CAMSHAFT AND LIFTERS I WOULD BUY NEW.THET WAY YOU WOODENT HAVE TO REPLACE IT LATER. I HEARD THAT USED CAMS ARE NEVER A GOOD DEAL</strong><hr></blockquote>

Holy smokes, do you know what a dictionary is?

[ssaza]

Hey,Good luck with your project.AMEN-"Nitro Junkie"

[ January 15, 2003: Message edited by: ssaza ]</p>

[NAIRB]

[quote]Originally posted by nitro junkie:
<strong>ok this goes to nairb and bstmech put down the bong and step away from the work bench, used gaskets,bearings,lifters,cams,and timing chains
can not be re instaled,and us warning you is not reteric its sound advice, have eather of you never herd of a wear pattern,for gods sake cut down on the weed and buy a quality engine componet
hell you can buy a performance oriented cam from p.a.w. for $40. if you cant afford this hobby mabby you should look into something else like building log cabins out of popsical sticks</strong><hr></blockquote>

Another one that can't spell, maybe you should lay off of the weed.

[BOBCRMAN@aol.com]

NAIRB, way back when i was in high school and everything was simpler it was common to buy rebuilt lifters, the faces were reground, the internals checked and/or replaced, the were faced on a machine with a very slight radius on the face, i used to reface my good solid lifters on a piece of 360 wet or dry glued to the inside of a rear window glass from a 41-48 Ford, it has a very small curve to it, i reused these lifters on several different cams, never had one fail, of course the cam profiles were different then and not near as aggressive as modern day. springs were a lot tamer also, but this does work.--- been there done that.