Installing lifters from the bottom?
Installing lifters from the bottom? Kind of a strange question. Lets say you're installing a cam using the "Russian roulette" method (no magnet pens or dowels) and a lifter decides to drop. Is it possible to reinstall the lifter from the bottom of the motor after removing the oil pan? I assume since it can fall out it can also be put back in. The question would be if you can fit a hand or pliers around the crank and rods to do it.
I'll be doing a cam swap here soon but will also have the oil pan off. I'll probably use dowels but was curious what would happen if a lifter fell anyways.
I'll be doing a cam swap here soon but will also have the oil pan off. I'll probably use dowels but was curious what would happen if a lifter fell anyways.
It MAY BE but the lifters have to "lock" into their trays meaning you may have to spin them around as you push them in. I dont see much room to do that even with the smallest hands.
Thhe lifters cant fall with the dowel method. They can slip down a little which may not let the new cam slide in. If that happens you can pick it up with a pen magnet through the pushrod hole
Thhe lifters cant fall with the dowel method. They can slip down a little which may not let the new cam slide in. If that happens you can pick it up with a pen magnet through the pushrod hole
It would be next to impossible...no room for tools not to mention needing to make sure it's lined up correctly.
$3 worth of dowels versus pulling the heads and buying new head gaskets, head bolts, and tons of extra labor? Why the hell would anyone risk it?
$3 worth of dowels versus pulling the heads and buying new head gaskets, head bolts, and tons of extra labor? Why the hell would anyone risk it?
Thanks for the input.
TECH Addict
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,305
Likes: 126
From: Monroe,NY
Agreed!!!
To definitively answer it, no. The cam is in a kind of "tunnel" with only some cutouts to the crank area. The lifters BTW don't "lock in" but just have a flat side on the body that matches up with a flat in the tray hole. It's just the friction of the plastic tray that holds them up
With regard to the lifter dowel tool. You could just use 5/16 brake lines, aluminum, steel tubing or 5/16 wooden dowels as well, you will roughly need 24 inches for length. If you use aluminum tubing, you can bend the last 3-4 inches @ a 90 to make a handle.
O'reilly's usually has straight aluminum and steel tubing segments for brake and fuel lines.
O'reilly's usually has straight aluminum and steel tubing segments for brake and fuel lines.
