Oversize solid lifters for 426 hemi?

[68blackbee]

I have a old 426 race hemi that has oversized lifters in it. The outside diameter of the tapperts are .935 . These are just plain mechanical tappets, non roller. They were on a Nielsen camshaft. Has anyone ever come across these before? Is there any supplier of this size lifter? I want to change cams but I’ve looked through all the major cam grinder books and I’ve only found roller lifters in the .936-.937 diameter.

 

[PRHeads]

The easiest solution is probably to send the current lifters out and have them refaced.

 

[Michael_]

I can't help with your problem BUT in case you didn't knew:

Right now isn't the best time to order new cams and lifters:



I would look for a nice NOS set or keep what you have.

 

[Cranky]

I can't help with your problem BUT in case you didn't knew:

Right now isn't the best time to order new cams and lifters:



I would look for a nice NOS set or keep what you have.

He's long in the tooth.....

 

[HEMI-ITIS]

The easiest solution is probably to send the current lifters out and have them refaced.

The best way would be lifter bore correction and bush the bore like Dan used to preach.
Is the engine apart?

 

[Geoff 2]

I believe Olds used a 0.921" lifter.
If the cam grinder utilised the larger diam of the lifter, he would have been able to increase lobe lift & area under the curve. Pretty sharp.

 

[68blackbee]

The easiest solution is probably to send the current lifters out and have them refaced.

The old lifters look like they were stored outside or underwater! The pitting is so deep in spots along the face and the sides I’m not sure they can be resurfaced. Some can be saved, but not all. I might try that if nothing else surfaces. I did talk to a cam grinder today who said he might have some. Fingers crossed!

 

[68blackbee]

The best way would be lifter bore correction and bush the bore like Dan used to preach.
Is the engine apart?

Short block is assembled but that’s not a problem. I am considering this as a plan “b”.

 

[GTX JOHN]

I vote for Bushing the Lifter bores.
You can straighten out Geometry while doing it.

 

[Geoff 2]

Quite a bit can be removed can be removed during the re-facing process. When I was drag racing, I was changing FT cams every other week. I re-faced some lifters 2-3 times.

 

[68blackbee]

Quite a bit can be removed can be removed during the re-facing process. When I was drag racing, I was changing FT cams every other week. I re-faced some lifters 2-3 times.

who did you use to have lifters refaced?

 

[Geoff 2]

I am in Australia. I had them done at an engine machine shop, cannot remember now, it was late 70s/early 80s.

 

[padam]

If you look at new lifters, they look like they are hand finished with some type of abrasive.
Anyone ever chuck them up in a lathe and do it?