Lifters and Pushrods

Jim Paterson · Nov 5, 2011

I'm rebuilding the engine on my '44 H and I am going to reuse the pushrods and lifters. How important is it to keep them in the same order?

pete 23 · Nov 5, 2011

I like to keep the lifters in order, push rods I don't worry about.

Tom Fleming · Nov 5, 2011

Pete is right on the money. Lifters "wear in" to the cam lobes. If you change the order, they will "wear in" again, and usually with excessive wear. Push rods are push rods, are push rods. Put 'em where you need 'em.

IMHO.

Bob · Nov 6, 2011

There's NO reason NOT to put the pushrods back where you found 'em, cause they wear matched to the rocker arms just like the lifters do with the cam.

Even if it saves a LITTLE wear and the need to re-adjust the valves quite as soon down the road there's NO reason not to put 'em back in the same place. I just poke a line of holes in a piece of cardboard and stick 'em in.There's NO reason NOT to put the pushrods back where you found 'em, cause they wear matched to the rocker arms just like the lifters do with the cam.

Even if it saves a LITTLE wear and the need to re-adjust the valves quite as soon down the road there's NO reason not to put 'em back in the same place. I just poke a line of holes in a piece of cardboard and stick 'em in.

David G · Nov 6, 2011

Lifters should always go back in the same hole. I take an egg carton and number them when I pull them so it is easy to keep track of them.

Tom Fleming · Nov 6, 2011

Guys, I actually agree that putting the push rods back in the same holes is desirable. However, I guess what I should have posted is that the lifters are more important to match back up than the push rods.

In my real experience, I often encounter bent push rods. I simply replace them, so I don't get excited about same holes as they came out of. If I have to replace lifters, I have the cam profiled and reused lifters ground.

However, I will absolutely agree that all valve train components "wear in". The other thing that we should always remember, these are low compression, low RPM engines. One should always follow good practice when working on them, but they are forgiving.

The card board suggestion is a great one, with 1 minor drawback......doesn't do squat if you drop it! Uh, yeah, happened to me.

pete 23 · Nov 6, 2011

I figured this would get some reply's about the push rods. Your choice, wear on ball and socket ends of push rods is so minimal where as wear on tappet is super important in comparison. About like making sure you put the left sock on the left foot each time. I do keep them separate sometimes, other times no worry. Lot more things more important to worry about like when you tighten down the rocker arm assembly, making sure all rockers are free and adjustments backed off etc.

mike1972chev · Nov 6, 2011

Lifters: BIG DEAL on putting them back on the same lobe.

Push Rods: Semi sorta a big deal/good idea.

MOST IMPORTANT: the condition of the push rods and lifters you are re installing!!!!! if either are pitted or worn beyond use,then you are wasting your time re installing them!

Are you installing a new camshaft/re ground camshaft??? Then you install either new lifters or re surfaced lifters!

Bob · Nov 6, 2011

Like you say the chance of extra wear is probably VERY minimal, but it costs NOTHING to keep 'em in order and eliminate ANY possible extra wear.

Lifters and Pushrods

Jim Paterson

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pete 23

Well-known Member

Tom Fleming

Well-known Member

Bob

Well-known Member

David G

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Tom Fleming

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pete 23

Well-known Member

mike1972chev

Well-known Member

Bob

Well-known Member

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