Lifter problem driving me f-ing crazy!!!

[Greg@GLD]

ARGH!!!!!

I have been having a problem for about two months with a lifter that collapses and starts hammering, then suddenly pumps up and goes away. It had been very sporadic but finally got bad enough that I had to do something. So today I have the intakes off and am getting ready to swap them out. Pulled out one of them, it came out fine with the head still in place. So I go to replace it with a new one, and the new one will not clear the head no matter what, so I finally figure out that the body of the new lifter is about 1/8" taller than the original. However, if you set the two lifters on a flat surface and place a pushrod in the cup, the height from the roller tip (bottom of the lifter) to the top of the pushrod is identical between them- on the taller lifter, the cup is recessed lower into the body. No big deal I guess except you can't replace the ones on each end without pulling the heads.
Has anyone seen this before? I thought all 5.0 roller lifters were identical???
I need a set like the ones I have. The replacements are made by Melling.

HELP!!!!

[Nick 1]

Are the old lifters the factory units ??????

If so, do you want a new factory set ??????

Can you return the ones you have now & get your money back ?????





Nick 1

[Greg@GLD]

Yes I can return the ones I got, and yes I want a factory set to compare them to. But time is a factor here of course...!

[BBATCO1]

Loosen up the heads, and have mikey pry them up. Then you slip them in. Problem solved.........

[BBATCO1]

By the time you get it done, you wouldn't have gotten new ones anyhow. It only seems like a big job but in reality won't take long.....

[Nick 1]

I'll look @ part #'s of the 5.0 roller lifters from 85 to 95 in the am. & see if there is diffrent #'s for the different year cars. If the Depot has them in stock I would have them Tuesday am. before I arrived @ work. Truck usually unloads @ work around 6:44 am.


TTL


Nick 1

[Greg@GLD]

Well Bob, Markstang said the shorter lifters are lighter and are better? I guess I just want to know why there is a difference? And I;d rather not break the head seal if I don't have to...

Nick, let me know what you find... I checked part numbers and the number is the same for all eFI 302's regardless of the year... M6500-R302 (that is Ford's number)

[BBATCO1]

When I had that set-up I could'nt get the lifters out with the heads on at all. I think a 1/8 inch of matieriel is negligable,(as far as weight is concerened) but I suppose every bit helps. Melling might of made them a tad bigger for some reason who knows. I ran lunatis but never measured them so thats no help. This is probobly a good question for thee bob kurgan as he is Mr. hydro lifter. I was just speaking on what I would do on a limited time scheduel and such. I would guess that the melling lifter is a little more heavy duty, but who knows.

[BBATCO1]

Are the lifters in your car now stock?

[Jesse James]

Just a thought Greg, are the lifters full of oil prior to trying to install them? I know standing the lifters on end in a small pan and pour oil into each lifter, and let them sit it the oil bath. The lifters will collapse when they're full of oil. Just a thought.

[Greg@GLD]

Well, that's not a factor here with regard to the problem, as the body of the lifter is solid and the plungers sit way down inside the body, so the fact that they may or may not be pumped up is not going to affect the overall hieight of the lifter's body.

[Jesse James]

Got it, just brainstormin Greg, good luck

[Greg@GLD]

I know, don't mind me buddy, I'm just getting weary of messing with this car. I suppose in a few short weeks when the snow flies I'll wish I could work on it, eh? :D

[MAT88GT]

just put the melling internals in the factory lifter and take the mellings back

[BP Convt]

I had the same lifter problem in my 302. Sometimes it would clack away and then it would be fine. I took the roller lifters apart eventually and the only thing I could see suspect was a few very small flakes of metal. My thought was that the metal flakes may have been getting stuck under the check ball in the bottom of the lifter, which would allow that lifter to collaspe. You could probably disassemble and clean the lifter plungers in your old lifters and I bet they would be fine. The only thing that I would really look at in reuseing old lifters is to make sure the roller is in good shape.

BP

[Greg@GLD]

Well, FWIW with 500 HP and a blower, I'm not taking chances and skimping, I'll just play it safe and replace the lifters with brand new ones. Ask HRSEPLY what can happen to your motor when a lifter comes apart under stress... :thud:

[Nick 1]

Well Bob, Markstang said the shorter lifters are lighter and are better? I guess I just want to know why there is a difference? And I;d rather not break the head seal if I don't have to...

Nick, let me know what you find... I checked part numbers and the number is the same for all eFI 302's regardless of the year... M6500-R302 (that is Ford's number)

Ok, Greg looking @ the Ford parts catalog the original part # is E9SZ.6500.A which is a T-Bird part #. It supersedes to F2SZ.6500.A. This is the same part # for all roller lifter Mustangs as well as roller lifter 3.8L engines in the quick look that I did. Ford has them @ the Depot in Chicago.

The M.6500.R302 is the Motorsport part # for the roller lifter.



Nick 1

[MAT88GT]

I had a handfull of them fail with only 30 minutes of run time :(

cleaned/inspected/rebuilt stockers would get my vote if you can't find new stock ford lifters....the frpp lifters are different than stock in that they have a different check valve "cage" and the bodies have wider/coarse machine lines iirc. Mine failed because the check valve bodies seperated from the plungers

I had the same lifter problem in my 302. Sometimes it would clack away and then it would be fine. I took the roller lifters apart eventually and the only thing I could see suspect was a few very small flakes of metal. My thought was that the metal flakes may have been getting stuck under the check ball in the bottom of the lifter, which would allow that lifter to collaspe. You could probably disassemble and clean the lifter plungers in your old lifters and I bet they would be fine. The only thing that I would really look at in reuseing old lifters is to make sure the roller is in good shape.


I agree completely. The wear bands around the bodies and/or roller wheels shouldn't have any deep scratches...hazing is ok. The wheels should roll freely without any "chunky spots" of resistance. I would let mine soak over night, disassembled, in mineral spirits or kerosene. Then, the next day, you can drain the cleaner off, dry all the parts with compressed air or a lint free towel, inspect everything, reassemble with a coat of atf.

[Greg@GLD]

I found the right ones yesterday and replaced them...