Cam / lifter dilemma

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22dodge

The other Dodge brother
Joined
May 15, 2007
Messages
2,032
Location
Nevada
I have a good used McGurk camshaft that I installed in the hi-torque 235
Chevy in the roadster... .430 in. - .410 ex. lift, 252 in.- 280 ex. duration.
I have a set of good used lifters from the engine, but purchased a new set
because I have heard that is the best way to go with a used cam...

BUT...

Reading through the "California Bill's Chevrolet Speed Manual" (1954 edition)
one last time, I found a recomendation to use the old lifters:

"Our best luck with tappets has been had by using old tappets which have been run
in engines for several years. These are coated with a glaze
of dirt, grease and carbon and will out wear 5 sets of new tappets".

And "Above all, don't install a new set of tappets in your engine. It just isn't
good for the engine, as they will wear out very quickly".

So, I have the Royal Purple assembly lube ready to go, high zink oil,
but at this point I am thoroughly "kenfused" :confused: as to which way to go.

Any thoughts, recomendations, advice etc. would be appreciated.. '22
 
Some things have changed since 1954.
Many of them, for the better.


New lifters, or resurfacing old lifters, would be my choice.
 
I would use the new lifters or resurface the old lifters before using them, but that's just me. I think you would be more likely to rapidly wear cam lobes and/or lifter bases by using tappets that were not worn in on the cam lobe that they will be mated to.
 
I think you would be more likely to rapidly wear cam lobes and/or lifter bases by using tappets that were not worn in on the cam lobe that they will be mated to.

That was my first thought. And the second was all tappets were new at one time. The only argument for using old tappets I've heard make sense is to avoid the junk coming from China.
 
Thanks........

Thanks guys, I'll use the new ones as I intended to in the first place. '22
 
Thanks Sam

The only argument for using old tappets I've heard make sense is to avoid the junk coming from China.

Yeah, thanks for pointing that out Sam.
I'll see if I can find out from the supplier where the unmarked box
of unmarked tappets was manufactured.. :confused: '22
 

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