Thread: Installing Hyd Lifters

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I just puschased my Comp Cam 270 kit for my sbc. What is the proper way to prep the new set of hyd lifters. Im not referring to the installitation lube part of it. I talking about full of oil or not. Should I install them dry with just installation lube on the ends. Or should I soak them for a few hours in oil and pump them up with oil the best I can. I have heard different people say different things but I want to know the proper way. Which is the best method for the zero lash 1/2 turn more setting of the rocker arms. Come on guys help a brother out. Thanks.

Its a hyd flat tappet cam

Soak them in oil, but do not pump them up. I have installed them both soaked in oil, and oil soaked, just rubbed oil on them...no difference that I can see. But I figure the oil getting inside can only help...but let the oil pressure of the running engine pump them up. If you do that first, your lash setting can be off. I go 1/4 to 1/2 turn after zero when I set hydraulics. John

Denny, thanks for the REALITY links

Originally posted by Dans72
I just puschased my Comp Cam 270 kit for my sbc. What is the proper way to prep the new set of hyd lifters. Im not referring to the installitation lube part of it. I talking about full of oil or not. Should I install them dry with just installation lube on the ends. Or should I soak them for a few hours in oil and pump them up with oil the best I can. I have heard different people say different things but I want to know the proper way. Which is the best method for the zero lash 1/2 turn more setting of the rocker arms. Come on guys help a brother out. Thanks.

I rebuilt a motor and did not soak or pump the lifters up.

I did prime the engine with a drill and oil pump primeing tube for about 5 minutes before I set the lash on the rocker arms.

The only lube I used was cam lube that came with the new cam and lifters around the bottom and sides of the new lifters before I put them in the intake manifold

presoaking or pumping them up can make the hyd lifter act as a solid lifter and proper lash might not be set correctly and when you fire the motor the first time you can have bad things happen like bent pushrods and broken rockers....

Here is a quote from crane cams "Many people mistakenly believe that hydraulic lifters must be soaked in oil overnight and be hand pumped up with a pushrod before installing into a new or used engine, however this is not necessary. In fact, this could cause the lifter to act as a “solid” and prevent obtaining proper preload. What is very necessary is the priming of the entire engine’s oil system before starting up a new or used engine for the first time after replaceing a cam and lifters"

Are you going to use the old rocker springs or buy new ones?

The age of the engine and the time it spent not running can cause the springs to weaken

I bought the whole comp cam kit: cam, lifters, springs, locks, etc... and the rockers are also new(crane 1.5 roller tip). As far as anti pump ups, I dont know or dont think they are. This is all going into a 73 010 block and rpm's will not be over 6000. Those links are a big help too thanks denny.

Denny Just my 2cents worth. Thanks for the links. Wish I had it before I did my cam change. Things would have gone alot smoother.