Hello all, I figured I would start this build thread because I do plan to build this car and see what kind of power I can get.

I have a 1992 Firebird that was given to me back in January, and all I had to do was get it running. Since then, I've done everything to tune it up and get it running right. The goal for this car is just to save up a little at a time, slowly buy parts for it, and just have fun with this. I'm in college right now, so I don't have money for anything, but I do love to work on this car.

What started this thread was that my lifter tick turned into a lifter knock, and after I did some digging, found a broken pushrod (a previous thread posted up here), and after doing some more digging, found a collapsed lifter, so I decided to save up a bit more and spring for a new cam and lifter set as well.

So far, my car is all stock, except for a 2* spark advance, and after I get the car back together, a 260/260 cam.

Right now, I have a question for you guys, my cam, lifters, and timing set came in yesterday, and two of the lifters give and the rest are rigid, is this bad? Should I send them back?

Thank you all in advance.

PS: I will post up pics when I can.

 

Im sorry but what do you mean by rigid and and they give? When there not on the car this is the issue? Is that what you are saying?

 

Yes, I haven't installed them yet. I've been soaking them in break in oil, but so far, I can only push the socket and plunger in on two of them, and on the rest of them, the plungers aren't moving.

 

I have no clue, im sorry. When I did my cam and such. I just lubed up the cam, lifters, pushrods, exc. like crazy with break in oil then put it in the car carefully. I never though to see if they "gave" or not.

Im willing to bet someone will chime in soon and be of more help.

 

let them soak in oil for a day or 2, these are brand new lifters?
u shoudl deff be able to push the plunger are u trying to push them with ur finger?

worse case is u can remove the lil spring clip out of the lifter and the guts will come out, then u can inspect the insides of the lifter for burrs or anything that may stop it from compressing

 

Yes, these are new lifters that I bought with my new cam, and I am trying to push them with my finger.

I did call Comp Cams and the technician said I "should" be ok, and the force from the engine "should" bleed the lifter.

 

do not rely on that to force the lifter plunger to move,cause if it doesnt u will wipe out the cam and or break the pushrod.

personally i would take them apart and inspect them .to be honest i would send everything back and get the same cam from delta , its 150 bucks less for the same dam cam and lifters

 

Most hydraulic lifters have oil in them when the engine runs the lifter has give in them to pump the oil up to the rockers, but you cant push them down with your finger, they must be bled.
I bleed mine by placing them in a small tin of oil covering the whole lifter then using the press to push them down 3/8 inch then release the pressure till you can't push them down with your finger. you can still use the press to push them down.
The reason they have give in them is some of the oil may have split out during transport.
Hope this helps.
Cheers
DJ

 

Sorry, I haven't been on in a while, and I just want this car running.

I got the cam and lifters in, and I got it running, briefly, I even used comp cam's brand of break in oil additive. It was knocking intermittently throughout the break in period, and when I turned it off, it backfired through the intake.

 

In between school and work, I've only been able to put a little bit of work into it at a time. Everything looked fine from the top, the springs I bought to go with the cam were not binding. I pulled the heads off so I could put new valves in, I figured I'm this far into the engine, I might as well replace what I can.

Also, what is a good price for head resurfacing from a local machine shop?