lifter drop risk on upside down engine ? (cam swap)

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May 11, 2007 | 05:21 PM

jeejee

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lifter drop risk on upside down engine ? (cam swap)

well the title may be a bit odd, but i got my engine in a engine stand and want to swap my cam.
now i don't have any special fixationtools to keep the lifters up and due to maybe a high mile engine i don't like the risk of pushing them up and perhaps when i try to get the new cam in they drop.

Now is my question, if i would rotate the engine upsidedown , the lifters would likely not fall down (into the oilpan) , but is it possible for the lifters to drop to the top ?
by looking at this picture it would appear not ??
anybody done this ??

thanks, Jeejee

Last edited by jeejee; May 11, 2007 at 05:34 PM.

May 11, 2007 | 06:25 PM

ShevrolayZ28

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With the lifter trays bolted in I'm pretty sure there is no way they'll fall out with the engine upside down.

May 11, 2007 | 06:43 PM

xssive

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Nope thats the farthest they will go up into the lifter tray, and the tray is bolted into the block

May 11, 2007 | 06:51 PM

FIEROPHREK

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The next question is will they move far enough up to clear the cam?

May 11, 2007 | 07:09 PM

xssive

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Yes spin the cam a few times and they are supposed to lock into the lifter trays and hold themselves up. If the lifter tray is worn, they can fall out

May 11, 2007 | 08:29 PM

travie319

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buy a mini telescope magnet at your local auto parts store.......one that will fit through the pushrod hole.......

May 11, 2007 | 08:42 PM

xssive

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Thats actually not a good idea because those magnets have been known to come out of the pen and get stuck to the lifter....then you get to pull a head

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May 11, 2007 | 09:08 PM

xssive

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Get some 5/16" rod and grind a flat on it. Then slide it into the lifter oil passage and it will lock them all in place

May 11, 2007 | 10:45 PM

#10

chuckyt1

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If you spin the cam, the lifters are supposed to stay in the trays. The only thing that can cause them to fall is gravity. If it's upside down, I don't see how that could happen.

May 12, 2007 | 12:47 AM

#11

Smokingss

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i did my cam swap with the motor upside down, no issues at all, and no need to spend 90 bucks on a stupid tool

May 12, 2007 | 03:41 AM

#12

jeejee

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yes that is what i thought, my only concern would be that the lifters would fall through the tray if the tray is worn somewhat and the engine is upsidedown , or would that be pretty impossible ???

May 12, 2007 | 09:52 AM

#13

PREDATOR-Z

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From: BFE

Since motor is on a stand, I would go ahead and change the rod bolts with Katech ones.
An yes upside down you can swap cams with no issue.

May 12, 2007 | 02:53 PM

#14

chuckyt1

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I get it, you're worried about them "falling up" to the heads. Won't happen. Check this pic out from LS1howto.com...

http://ls1howto.com/howto/fbody/head...icescraper.jpg

May 12, 2007 | 04:30 PM

#15

CoreyZ/28

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all i did was use 2 metal rods about the size of the antennae(sp?) and slid them in the holes to hold the lifters up, worked fine.

May 12, 2007 | 05:42 PM

#16

jeejee

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Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckyt1

I get it, you're worried about them "falling up" to the heads. Won't happen. Check this pic out from LS1howto.com...

http://ls1howto.com/howto/fbody/head...icescraper.jpg

i was not quite sure how to put it, but you hit the nail on the head, Thanks

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lifter drop risk on upside down engine ? (cam swap)

lifter drop risk on upside down engine ? (cam swap)

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