I know this is really stupid, but can I use hydraulic lifters with the lt4 hotcam or do I need Roller lifters?

 

I really need an awnser to this

 

I'm 99.99% sure it's ground for roller's...the hyd rollers in your '89 should be fine.

 

YES 1000% you need the roller lifters, if you have a 1989 block it will have them in it and can be reused. Make sure they go back in the same bore. You will be very happy with the swap.



Brian

 

Well, thats the whole problem. I bought the cam, installed it, couldent figure out why it wasent running right. ( I had read it was a direct replacement for 89's). But ....the genious previous owner installed a new engine that is not a roller block, it screwed me up....either way looks like Im a have to give Comp camps a call and see if they can recommend a nice flat tappet cam. Thanks for the help. Anyone have any guesses on what kind of damage I did by running a roller cam with Hydraulic lifters?

 

OMG

That sucks!

Pull it apart and look. I don't think anyone is willing to admit if they do know what happens. I would imagine it could/should trash a motor in short order though. The non roller lifters should have done a nice job of eating into your hotcam, distributing abrasives throughout your motor, and just pretty much making your motor ready to be rebuilt. I hope you aren't as bad off as I think you may be. Live and learn I guess.

 

Yea ill post pics when i get it apart....Hopefully its not too bad, it was not run for very long with the hotcam (mabye 5 min total).

We shall see....

 

This will most likely be a bad experience when you open it up.

But keep us updated, pics if you get em.

 

I'm sure you feel bad enough... but this isn't going to make you feel any better when I ask you why you didn't bother to do any research BEFORE you took on a job you obviously were not technically able to accomplish by yourself. The first thing that presents itself when you look through Summit or Jegs for cams is if it is a flat tappet or roller lifter (they both come in hydrolic or solid versions). That is the BASICS as far as cam go. I can see screwing up lift or duration or LSA or advancing/retarding it when you dial it in... but getting THAT wrong? You have no business working on an engine... unless you are willing/able to replace it with a new engine after every mod. PLEASE read and research before you try anything more. These basic mistakes are too easily avoided if you just take time to learn some things from the people who have the experience... I'm sure Vader or Ede will gladly answer any questions you may have

 

Well he did say that the previous owner had swapped a non roller block into a car that was supposed to have a roller block and didnt tell him. I can see how he made that mistake as he was going off the info he had at that time. I dont think it really reflects on his technical ability. Kind of unfair to say what you're saying, but whatever floats your boat. We've all made mistakes, especially when working with bad or second hand information. The lesson I've leared when working with second hand cars (all my cars are second hand) is to always assume whatever you're modding was jacked up by the pervious owner. This way you force yourself to always double check everything before you start wrenching. Only problem is I spend more time verifying crap than actually doing the work. Sucks but its kept me out of trouble so far ...

 

ray on behalf of vader and myself thanks for the recommendation.

 

That helps. WTF? He made a mistake, that's it, nobodies problem but his. If you need to sit there and poke him in the eye while he's down, I pitty you. HE has to fix it, not you. I think he feels bad enough without someone discrediting him in an already bad time.
89transam; Just get back up and fix it..... ...and put something on that eye.

 

Not only used the wrong lifters, but re-used flat-tappets? Wow. That's bonus points territory right there.

 

Well, KevinC, I read that with a roller cam the lifters can be reused.

I would say my biggest mistake was ordering the part before I got into the project. There would be no way (to my knowlesge) that I could have possibly known it was setup for Hydraulic lifters beforehand. Either way, the cams looked the same to me so no warning bells went off and I put it in. The car runs, it just doesnt run good. Im just hoping for the best. But in the end it really doent matter, If I have to replace the motor its really no big deal, Ill take out a no intrest student loan and pay it back later :lala:

Edit: And for all of you on your High horse, Im sure you too have made mistakes when woring on your car (espically when just starting out), mine just has the possibility of being very expensive..

 

Pile on, *******s. He made a mistake. We all had to start somewhere. My first build blew apart 30 seconds after I started it. Live and learn. Learn and live.

 

Not to be critical...but flat tappet lifters and roller lifters do look different...not just at the whole lifter, but where they touch the cam...Good luck on fixing it?

Acceld Z: 30 seconds? What did you do wrong?

 

The lifters may look different but the cams don't, lol.

Ya know when "the pros" suggest you check piston to valve clearance? Well, they suggest you do that for a reason

 

Ouch...

 

You put the pistons in upside down?

 

Errrr, no. That would have warranted suicide. I'm gonna assume that was sarcasm and walk away from this post........

 

It wasnt in jest and was not intended to make an effort at poking any fun at your prior situation.

I have read and heard of many people making just that exact mistake though.

If its not to painfull I would like to hear what did happen though.

Peace

 

Oh, ok, I know what you mean now. You're talking about when the pistons get installed on the wrong side. I've heard of that happening too. My screw up wasn't anything interesting. I didn't have enough of a fly cut on the piston and the valves kissed them. It cost me a new set of valves, pushrods, and pistons.

Measure twice and spend $ once

 

Actually they do. Flat-tappet cams I've installed had black lobes, roller cams have shiny lobes.

 

Yup, we all had to start somewhere...some of us started by reading books, others just bought parts and threw them together...

 

You're 100% right. I think it's called parkerising. I used to know that, lol.

 

I'm sure you're right about that too. But, mistakes can still happen even when you educate yourself before hand. I didn't build my short block but I failed to tell the builder that i'd be running lots of lift with a small chamber head. **** happens but it's worse when people ridicule you for it.