I don't know much about lifters, so this may be a simplistic (stupid) question but...

I'm looking to replace my stock 1989 L98 lifters soon.

They have vertical locking bars from the factory.

I spoke with a rep at Summit and he mentioned that I could take my existing vertical bars off and attach them to new lifters.

I was wondering if this is true and, if so, is it easy to do?

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

 

Don't know about those vertical bars. The 89 should have factory standard roller lifters. They just drop into the lifter bores, a small plate slips over each pair of lifters, then the "spider" is bolted to the center of the engine to hold down the retaining plates. To replace the lifters all you need are the lifters, the rest can be reused. The pictured lifters would not be in a factory 89 engine:

 

If they have the link bar on them they are not factory at all. Does the block have three posts in the middle with holes tapped in them?

 

not sure... I don't have it apart rightnow. I'm just trying to get all the parts I need before I tear it down.

I believe the bar connecting the lifters was factory in 1989.

 

Nope.

 

Never had the connecting bars . They had the above mentioned provisions in them to accept the standard roller lifter. Hense the name "Roller Block " . Which area bit cheaper than the ones with the link bars on them .

 

I think terminology is gettng crossed up.

What lifters are you actually looking at using?

The factory rollers have a locking bar/plate and can be used with another set of factory style lifters. This bar/dogbone/whatever slips over the lifters to keep each set from rotating...it doesn't actually connect to the lifter like the non-OEM style does.