Dished lifters... why?
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Car: 88 Camaro SC
Engine: SFI'd 350
Transmission: TKO 500
Axle/Gears: 9-bolt w/ 3.23's
Dished lifters... why?
I had to pull my engine apart when one of my lifters came apart internally and completely collapsed. I was inspecting the remaining lifter heels, and they have all lost their crown. They are all slightly dished (~.0005"), and have a sort of dull appearance, like they have microscopic pitting. I inspected them after break in, and at that time, they looked great. No lobes wiped as far as I can tell, the cam looks OK (but is likely still trash), and there was no scuffing. The lifters only have 10k miles on them. I used 5-40 synth. rotella along with ZDDPlus on each oil change.
Why did they wear so fast? Crappy lifters? Something in the oil? Too much ZDDP? Ive heard that high levels can lead to faster wear rates.
Why did they wear so fast? Crappy lifters? Something in the oil? Too much ZDDP? Ive heard that high levels can lead to faster wear rates.
Last edited by dimented24x7; 06-24-2010 at 04:36 AM.
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Car: 88 Camaro SC
Engine: SFI'd 350
Transmission: TKO 500
Axle/Gears: 9-bolt w/ 3.23's
Re: Dished lifters... why?
I do know that isky does not make these lifters. They are repackaged units as far as I can tell. Look like the same ones that come from other companies like edelbrock and crane. Theyre pretty cheesy, and dont have much in 'em. All they have is a plunger, metering disk at the top (which broke in one), and a free floating check valve that does a **** poor job of keeping them pumped up. I guess its just bad metalurgy?
Im going to use the GMPP units with a fresh cam. Hopefully they last longer than a single oil change this time
Im going to use the GMPP units with a fresh cam. Hopefully they last longer than a single oil change this time
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Re: Dished lifters... why?
Only thing that would make any sense to me with that low of mileage is lack of lubrication. What happens over time is a dish on the lifter, or one that lacked adequate lubrication if the rest look fine. I've seen all kinds of wear from almost a whole set worn to just one or two trashed. But 10k miles, thats not good at all. Maybe the lifters are just junk.
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Car: 88 Camaro SC
Engine: SFI'd 350
Transmission: TKO 500
Axle/Gears: 9-bolt w/ 3.23's
Re: Dished lifters... why?
Only thing that would make any sense to me with that low of mileage is lack of lubrication. What happens over time is a dish on the lifter, or one that lacked adequate lubrication if the rest look fine. I've seen all kinds of wear from almost a whole set worn to just one or two trashed. But 10k miles, thats not good at all. Maybe the lifters are just junk.
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Car: 88 Camaro SC
Engine: SFI'd 350
Transmission: TKO 500
Axle/Gears: 9-bolt w/ 3.23's
Re: Dished lifters... why?
Heres what they look like. The surface in the center has a dull appearance. Not the usual shiny surface good lifters would have. The crown is also missing. It looks like it was in the very first stage of failure.
It would be nice to know what the answer is. If I had waited a year, I probably would have a much more conclusive (and unwelcome) answer, but I cant tell a whole lot at this stage.
It would be nice to know what the answer is. If I had waited a year, I probably would have a much more conclusive (and unwelcome) answer, but I cant tell a whole lot at this stage.
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Car: 88 Camaro SC
Engine: SFI'd 350
Transmission: TKO 500
Axle/Gears: 9-bolt w/ 3.23's
Re: Dished lifters... why?
I decided to crank up the zoom on my camera to 200x to see what the surface looks like
Looks like its pitted and flaking. My guess would be that the metal was simply overloaded beyond what it could take (maybe poor heat treatment, or just not strong enough).
I really hope the next set works better. Im really tired of ripping this motor back apart to fix stuff...
Looks like its pitted and flaking. My guess would be that the metal was simply overloaded beyond what it could take (maybe poor heat treatment, or just not strong enough).
I really hope the next set works better. Im really tired of ripping this motor back apart to fix stuff...
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Car: 1989 GTA
Engine: 350TPI w/ Speed Density
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: Borg warner 3.27
Re: Dished lifters... why?
That last picture was from a digital camera? I really have to get with the times!
Did you use liberal amounts of assembly lube on all the lifters?
Regardless of the issue, it looks like the lifters took the bulk of wear, and not the cam. Always a plus.
Edit: Just realized you said you inspected them after break in with no issues. Bad lifters have my vote.
Did you use liberal amounts of assembly lube on all the lifters?
Regardless of the issue, it looks like the lifters took the bulk of wear, and not the cam. Always a plus.
Edit: Just realized you said you inspected them after break in with no issues. Bad lifters have my vote.
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Car: 88 Camaro SC
Engine: SFI'd 350
Transmission: TKO 500
Axle/Gears: 9-bolt w/ 3.23's
Re: Dished lifters... why?
Yeah, it looks like they couldnt take teh load. These where generics repackaged from isky. I think many other companies use them as well.
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Car: 88 Camaro SC
Engine: SFI'd 350
Transmission: TKO 500
Axle/Gears: 9-bolt w/ 3.23's
Re: Dished lifters... why?
I have a retro roller kit that I never used. I think Im just going to go with that and a small roller.
I had my semi-big cam, it was fun, but I just want to run it w/o having to worry about the valvetrain chewing itself up.
I had my semi-big cam, it was fun, but I just want to run it w/o having to worry about the valvetrain chewing itself up.
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Car: 1996 Vette / 1992 GSX1100F Suzuki
Engine: 1996 Corvette Coupe 388 LT1 (+.060)
Transmission: Auto
Axle/Gears: 3.07
Re: Dished lifters... why?
During my years of dealing with failed flat tappet cams it boiled down to one of two things: Improper oiling during break-in and/or too much spring pressure.
Once wear beings it continues to worsen over time.
Sorry to read about your failure, but moving to a roller is a win-win.
Jake
Once wear beings it continues to worsen over time.
Sorry to read about your failure, but moving to a roller is a win-win.
Jake
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Car: '82 Camaro
Engine: 383
Transmission: TKO 5 speed
Axle/Gears: 31 spline 9" with 4.56:1
Re: Dished lifters... why?
Same problem that is effecting many engines running flat tappets, no zinc in the oil anymore (thank your government). Some say that the zinc additives "fix" the oil, others say run diesel rated oil...only sure cure I've seen is to run rollers--which makes for a better engine anyway!!!
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