Odd problem with lifters

[281pony]

i have a problem with one of my lifters. it sits almost an inch higher then the others and wont move down. it sits so high that the second bearing doesnt even enter the tunnel. its also too high to get the x brace/hold down on.

they are stock style hydraulic lifters, 274hr camshaft. installed correctly, all of them except for the one are fine. it is the last row on the back side of the engine, right side.

nothing is binding, its fitting good but i cant put the hold down on it like this. anyone had a similar issue?

 

[Rick 91GT]

Can you swap lifters to see if another fits? Mic the lifter and the bore, check for any debris or burr's, it shouldn't stick up that high if it is sitting on the cam.

Did you pre-soak the lifters in oil...

 

[281pony]

checked for dirt, burrs, everything. switched lifters multiple times. same thing.they all fit fine in every hole except the one. its sitting on the cam, but i dont know why so high. im not having a problem getting it in, it slides in smoothly just not far enough.

they were soaked in oil prior to installing, i also oiled the holes by hand.

 

[281pony]

rick i sent you a pm also

 

[jeffnoel]

You may need to pull the cam and inspect that lobe.

 

[281pony]

i would have done that normally, except its a brand new cam and brand new shortblock..

i looked at the cam alot before it went in, inspecting for any dirt, hair or something i got on it. nothing was abnormal. put on the assembly lube and it went in no problem. even turned it a few times no problem before putting the timing chain on.

every single lifter is fitting good, and slips in nice and smooth. just dont see why the damn thing wont drop down another half inch at least.

 

[Foxwolfe]

What about turning the cam by hand with the lifters in to see if that one thats not going down moves at all to check if it actually is contacting the cam?

 

[Rick 91GT]

you are dot to dot on the timing chain right?

I asnwered the PM

 

[281pony]

my cousin was here to make sure i did my cam install right and for peace of mind. the timing chain is dot to dot, he had my put the top sprocket dot on the top, and the bottom sprocket dot facing upwards also. that is the correct way right? it isint bottom to top?

ive been turning my engine over manually and seeing if anything changes. nothing. you can hear it hit the cam when you push it down. maybe the sprockets were installed wrong? was my first time doing it so i just installed like he said.

 

[jeffnoel]

the two dots should be facing each other, cam facing down & crank facing up.

 

[281pony]

jesus christ really?

at least my oil pan isint on yet so i can just pull the timing chain cover back off. damn, does that seem like the likely problem then?

cam is facing up, crank is facing up.

 

[jeffnoel]

That may not be why your lifters weird, but it won't run with the cam like that.

 

[281pony]

i went dot to dot, bottom to top this time. then i tapped the rocker with my finger and it fell in. turned it over manually and it lifted and fell back down under its own weight. looks like my learning experience of the day

thanks for the help guys

 

[Rick 91GT]

That's the issue, the cam is out of time and the lifter is way off.

On the PM, yes the oil will come to the top on the cylinder when it is rotated. I'd wipe up as much as you can on the other subject...

 

[jeffnoel]

 

[281pony]

That's the issue, the cam is out of time and the lifter is way off.

On the PM, yes the oil will come to the top on the cylinder when it is rotated. I'd wipe up as much as you can on the other subject...

i cranked it over a pretty good amount, and i didnt notice anything this time. i think there was some debre in there from shipping packaging. then the assembly lube i used was coating it black and looked like shavings.

only thing this time was oil that i saw. ill go out again later and crank it and make sure nothing is there, but it is definately thinning out.

 

[281pony]

just remembered something i forgot to add on this post.

my timing chain cover doesnt sit flush with my block. it hangs about 1/16" lower then the block. should i go in and have it milled down to sit flush?

seems like alot for the gasket to absorb, but maybe it will be ok. its a canton 7 quart oil pan, one piece rubber gasket, arp bolts, no stock pan braces.

 

[Rick 91GT]

Never seen one off that far, I usually make sure they mate the block to prevent any issues. The gasket usually hangs down at the seam as well, just make sure you trim it off.

You are running the dowels for the front cover right?

 

[281pony]

never got any dowels with my shortblock or had them before. this is a timing chain cover i got off my screwed up shortblock.

we might be looking at a different picture. the block is flat, then the timing chain cover sits lower so its like a 1/16" step up. im worried about torquing an oil pan on that and causing it to tweak, then cause leaks once its installed.

unless you think the gasket will compensate for it? ill get a more accurate measurement.

if worse comes to worse i was going to take it into the machine shop and have the difference milled off.

 

[281pony]

ok, its not as significant as i thought.

its almost exactly the same thickness as a dime for a comparison. does that seem more realistic for the gasket to compensate?