I am going to do my cam install this weekend and i forgot about geting the tool you put in the motor to hold the lifters up. My question is does anyone know if a peice of round bar would work the same? If so what size would i need. Thanks guys.

 

most use a cheapo round bar, 1/4 or 5/16 should do the trick.

 

You can just use a simple wooden dowel rod too. Very popular.

 

thats waht i used...two wooden dowels

 

I wouldn't use wood. Too dangerous if it breaks inside.
Aluminum is the way to go.

 

Used 5/16 rod, had to grind them down just a little.

 

how are you going to break them? just use your head and your good

 

Should I wiggle my ears too???

 

I did TONS of searching on this before I did my cam a couple months ago. I ended up getting 1/4 aluminum rod for Home Depot for $3.xx each. Took a file to the ends and rounded and smoothed a bit, stood up next to the cam and gave an extra 4inches and made a bend. Mark with a scratch where the cam stops next to the rod so you'll know that the dowel has slid far enough to snag ALL the lifters.

 

Good idea with marking the lenghts firehawk!

 

I did the same. FWIW, on my '99 block, 5/16" steel rod fit on both sides of the motor. The only grinding was rounding off the tip that goes into the engine. I didn't grind anything along the length. I also used the cam to measure length, then just bent a handle.

 

second......


the lifters don't weigh anything compared to the stregth of a good hardwood dowel.......




I personally have never used a tool (other than pin mags down the pushrod holes) to hold the lifters up......

 

I didn't want to use magnets because
1) the cheapest I found was $6.49 each
2) cheap magnets can seperate and now you have the magnetic tip stuck to the top of the lifter... take the heads off to get it back.
3)sliding a rod in place is easier than making sure 16 magnets are popped into place correctly.

 

I definately prefer and promote using rods vs pen magnets as well.