Lifter's WONT stay up
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 288
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From: California
Lifter's WONT stay up Im in the middle of my 3rd cam swap (NOT BY CHOICE) As seen here: https://ls1tech.com/forums/ls1tech-sponsor-feedback/590290-anyone-else-happen-get-bad-futral-cam-new-cams-sent-long-time-ago.html
Anyways, my point is, this time i needed to use the 5/16's tool because this is the 1st time i actually have the heads on while doing the cam.
So, when i insurted the tool's and spun the cam, i can see the lifter's still riding the cam
Whhhyyyy???? I thought ones the tool's were in thats it, no movement. I inserted a push rod to the top of the head to check the rest that i am not able to see, and sure enough three more are still riding the cam.
Note: This was a wooden 5/16's tool, after that failed i went out and got my self some metal 5/16's... Those dont fit, i will have to shave down an edge down the whole thing i guess...
My buddy just did a cam swap in his WS6 last week and used the wooden 5/16's and it worked fine, but im Mr Lucky
... Is it do to the fact that i have an LS6 block by any chance?
Thanks Guy's, any input would be GREAT!
Anyways, my point is, this time i needed to use the 5/16's tool because this is the 1st time i actually have the heads on while doing the cam.
So, when i insurted the tool's and spun the cam, i can see the lifter's still riding the cam
Whhhyyyy???? I thought ones the tool's were in thats it, no movement. I inserted a push rod to the top of the head to check the rest that i am not able to see, and sure enough three more are still riding the cam. Note: This was a wooden 5/16's tool, after that failed i went out and got my self some metal 5/16's... Those dont fit, i will have to shave down an edge down the whole thing i guess...
My buddy just did a cam swap in his WS6 last week and used the wooden 5/16's and it worked fine, but im Mr Lucky
... Is it do to the fact that i have an LS6 block by any chance?Thanks Guy's, any input would be GREAT!
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Joined: Dec 2001
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From: Bergen County, NJ
Spin the cam first, then insert the tool. If you get the aluminum rods from home depot shaving them is easy. If the wood slides in before you spin the cam it's not big enough - remember you are only trying to catch the small shoulder on the lifters so the tolerance needs to be close.
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 288
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From: California
Originally Posted by DaddySS
Spin the cam first, then insert the tool. If you get the aluminum rods from home depot shaving them is easy. If the wood slides in before you spin the cam it's not big enough - remember you are only trying to catch the small shoulder on the lifters so the tolerance needs to be close.
So my plan was to shave them down tommorow, im glad you just reasured me im soppose to do that... The reason i have been so lost, is do to the fact that everyone i have talked to has been telling me the tool is soppose to go under the lifter... Im no rocket scientist but, that cam is almost an inch from the hole the tool is inserted in...
So thank you for clearing that up for me too
Its the small sholder that im shooting for... 
Im just terrified of droping a lifter... I DO NOT want to pull that oil pan...
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Joined: Dec 2004
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Originally Posted by TWISTEDTA
Yea i went to Osh and got the metal rods but they didnt fit, by that time i was frustrated though So my plan was to shave them down tommorow, im glad you just reasured me im soppose to do that...
The reason i have been so lost, is do to the fact that everyone i have talked to has been telling me the tool is soppose to go under the lifter... Im no rocket scientist but, that cam is almost an inch from the hole the tool is inserted in...
So thank you for clearing that up for me too Its the small sholder that im shooting for...
Im just terrified of droping a lifter... I DO NOT want to pull that oil pan...
So my plan was to shave them down tommorow, im glad you just reasured me im soppose to do that... The reason i have been so lost, is do to the fact that everyone i have talked to has been telling me the tool is soppose to go under the lifter... Im no rocket scientist but, that cam is almost an inch from the hole the tool is inserted in...
So thank you for clearing that up for me too
Its the small sholder that im shooting for... Im just terrified of droping a lifter... I DO NOT want to pull that oil pan...
..but it builds CHARACTER!
Use a 3/8" dowel. I bought some 5/16" and it didn't look like it was going to catch very well. The 3/8 was better but I bet I could have gone on size bigger. I am testing the dowel on a bare block though so, I may be wrong. I will know Friday for sure. Pen magnets are cheap insurance. If you drop a lifter and then think "If I had spent $30 on magnets I wouldn't be in this mess" You'll be doing this 
Originally Posted by 1SlowHoe
Pen magnets are cheap insurance. If you drop a lifter and then think "If I had spent $30 on magnets I wouldn't be in this mess" You'll be doing this
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Nope wasn't saying to use all pen magnets just to get the final lifters that won't stay up long enough to put the rod dowl in. but yes they are cheap insurance indeed. btw i used break line and it worked great but that was just me
peace
ricky
peace
ricky
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Originally Posted by keliente
Not always. My friend used some pen magnets and the magnet of the pen was stuck to the lifter when he pulled the magnet handle out
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 288
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From: California
Originally Posted by keliente
Not always. My friend used some pen magnets and the magnet of the pen was stuck to the lifter when he pulled the magnet handle out
Thats what happens when you go with Cheap insurance i guess... Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 288
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From: California
Originally Posted by 1SlowHoe
Use a 3/8" dowel. I bought some 5/16" and it didn't look like it was going to catch very well. The 3/8 was better but I bet I could have gone on size bigger. I am testing the dowel on a bare block though so, I may be wrong. I will know Friday for sure. Pen magnets are cheap insurance. If you drop a lifter and then think "If I had spent $30 on magnets I wouldn't be in this mess" You'll be doing this
Hmm, I will know for sure Friday. I am using a 6.0L truck (iron) block. Don't know if they are a little different. Hell, maybe I'm sticking it in the wrong hole. (That's open to a lot of comments)
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 288
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From: California
Originally Posted by 1SlowHoe
Hmm, I will know for sure Friday. I am using a 6.0L truck (iron) block. Don't know if they are a little different. Hell, maybe I'm sticking it in the wrong hole. (That's open to a lot of comments)
Maybe after i figure out my problem hahaIt must be different man... The wholes look bigger then what they actually are.
I've seen in other threads where the dowels dont hold up all of the lifters. I think it is good that you have to shave some off. Just dont shave too much. The pen magnet is a good idea, a buddy uses them for all of his cam swaps. Though after reading keliente's post I would check them with something else in the garage a few times...
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 288
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From: California
Originally Posted by NSTY WS6
I've seen in other threads where the dowels dont hold up all of the lifters. I think it is good that you have to shave some off. Just dont shave too much. The pen magnet is a good idea, a buddy uses them for all of his cam swaps. Though after reading keliente's post I would check them with something else in the garage a few times...
Launching!
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 205
Likes: 1
From: Atlanta area, GA
Proceed carefully..
The rods are NOT designed to "hold the lifters up"; they are simply there to "catch" them from falling into the motor, IF THE LIFTER TRAY FAILS TO HOLD THEM UP DURING THE CAM SWAP.
The above is your real issue, your lifter trays are worn, not holding them. If you start pulling the cam, even if you get the rods in, you'll have a mess on your hands. When you spin the cam, are you really giving it a good, hard spin, in both directions? You are trying to "throw" them up into the plastic tray.
You need to either a: get the lifters to stay in the trays (i.e. when you spin the cam you see no movement), or b: use magnets or other methods to retain the lifters.
On my swap, the lifters were so firm I had to push down on the P-rods to get them un-seated.
Good luck!!
The rods are NOT designed to "hold the lifters up"; they are simply there to "catch" them from falling into the motor, IF THE LIFTER TRAY FAILS TO HOLD THEM UP DURING THE CAM SWAP.
The above is your real issue, your lifter trays are worn, not holding them. If you start pulling the cam, even if you get the rods in, you'll have a mess on your hands. When you spin the cam, are you really giving it a good, hard spin, in both directions? You are trying to "throw" them up into the plastic tray.
You need to either a: get the lifters to stay in the trays (i.e. when you spin the cam you see no movement), or b: use magnets or other methods to retain the lifters.
On my swap, the lifters were so firm I had to push down on the P-rods to get them un-seated.
Good luck!!
Originally Posted by keliente
Not always. My friend used some pen magnets and the magnet of the pen was stuck to the lifter when he pulled the magnet handle out
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 288
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From: California
Originally Posted by Dan_the_C5_Man
Proceed carefully..
The rods are NOT designed to "hold the lifters up"; they are simply there to "catch" them from falling into the motor, IF THE LIFTER TRAY FAILS TO HOLD THEM UP DURING THE CAM SWAP.
The above is your real issue, your lifter trays are worn, not holding them. If you start pulling the cam, even if you get the rods in, you'll have a mess on your hands. When you spin the cam, are you really giving it a good, hard spin, in both directions? You are trying to "throw" them up into the plastic tray.
You need to either a: get the lifters to stay in the trays (i.e. when you spin the cam you see no movement), or b: use magnets or other methods to retain the lifters.On my swap, the lifters were so firm I had to push down on the P-rods to get them un-seated.
Good luck!!
The rods are NOT designed to "hold the lifters up"; they are simply there to "catch" them from falling into the motor, IF THE LIFTER TRAY FAILS TO HOLD THEM UP DURING THE CAM SWAP.
The above is your real issue, your lifter trays are worn, not holding them. If you start pulling the cam, even if you get the rods in, you'll have a mess on your hands. When you spin the cam, are you really giving it a good, hard spin, in both directions? You are trying to "throw" them up into the plastic tray.
You need to either a: get the lifters to stay in the trays (i.e. when you spin the cam you see no movement), or b: use magnets or other methods to retain the lifters.On my swap, the lifters were so firm I had to push down on the P-rods to get them un-seated.
Good luck!!
So, these "Other Method's" you speak of.... Do tell, Im willing to try almost anything.... I really dont want a lifter to fall...
Thank You
Launching!
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 205
Likes: 1
From: Atlanta area, GA
Ahh, I should edit my post. Don't know of any other way to retain the lifters, other than pulling the heads and eliminate the issue.
I guess try to buy the best pen magnets you can find!
The extensions used on magnetic screwdrivers seem to be heavy-duty, I guess you could buy 16 screwdrivers!
I guess try to buy the best pen magnets you can find!
The extensions used on magnetic screwdrivers seem to be heavy-duty, I guess you could buy 16 screwdrivers!