383 Lifter question

[SgtLee511]

Ive got my resto engine on the stand, about to put the heads on it and button it up, its going to be sitting another 6 months. Do the lifters need to be lubricated, to pump them up. Somewhere I read not to do that, But I always have sat them in oil over night before my build. id appreciate yalls thoughts.

 

[5.7 hemi]

You could pull the distributor and prime the engine, that should pump up the lifters.

 

[SgtLee511]

planned on that anyway, probably the only thing I should do

 

[66Satellite47]

Soak them in oil for a day or two & prime the motor before firing, turning the motor over by hand making sure you see good oil flow out of each rocker on each rocker shaft. Watch the oil pressure to see what you're getting with the drill motor/priming shaft.

 

[PurpleBeeper]

Or you could soak, hand pump up & install them. Don't tighten down the rocker shafts & leave the valve covers loose, but on. LEAVE YOURSELF A NOTE ON THE VALVE COVERS THAT THE ROCKER SHAFTS ARE LOOSE. You could tighten the shafts & valve covers in about 30 min. just before installation. Prime it though too through the distributor hole before start up.

Just don't assemble the whole thing and forget about it and start without priming. Whatever valves are open will be squeezing the oil out of those lifters.

 

[lewtot184]

don't pump the lifters up. that would put them in a solid state and you could have piston to valve collision on start up; especially with a 383. coat them with some assembly lube and let it go at that. if your using stock rockers those tappets will end up with a lot of pre-load after run-in. not having that needed pre-load at start up could be a problem. i don't know of any cam grinder or engine guru who would advise pumping the tappets up before start up. priming the system will not pump the tappets but will get the air out of the tappet galleys.

 

[mopar 3 B]

The lifters and bores at least need to be lubricated to prevent rust

 

[SgtLee511]

Yea I got it together today, I used Engine Assembly lube. I just wanted to be sure that I didn't need to pump them up, Thanks all for the help

 

[moper]

Leave them alone. Use the paste break in lube from Crane so it won't run off over time. Use the paste on the lifter bases, and engine oil on the sides and drop them in. You should not be soaking or pumping them up ahead of fire up.

 

[Rich H.]

I have used two approaches that have both worked. Historically, meaning everything up until the past couple years, nothing. Let them clatter at the first hit and they will pump up all by themselves in a couple seconds. Recently, though, I decided to try something different....while priming/while pressure was high, and everything assembled exactly as it was going to run, I pumped them up in place using the rocker arm. That also worked great. I'd suggest whatever you do, don't pump them up before assembly.

 

[miller]

Do the lifters need to be lubricated, to pump them up.

Only way I've ever done it...so, it's just for what it's worth. Answer yes, and no.

Why would you put ANY part into an engine dry? I've built several 383s, besides other engines, and always pre-lubed the tappets, but only to get lubrication inside, and out. Not to 'pump' them up. Their a hydraulic pump, so they pump up, with oil pressure, and bleed down, on their own. It's how they work.

I have never, wiped a cam lobe, cratered a tappet, bent a pushrod, so take it for what it's worth. Everybody has their own opinions, on how to do things.