tbrowne

Just put new cam & heads on my 04 with new link bar lifters. I have not installed rockers or measured for push rods, however, I have turned the engine over by hand and inserted adjustable push rods to check the lifters. Two of the lifters on one cylinder are soft and springy. The others appear to have pumped up and are solid when I put pressure on them. Do I have a problem with these two or will they pump up once the engine is running?

K-Spaz

They've gotta have oil pressure to pump up. Yes, the motor needs to at least turn over quickly enough to build some. Other than being full of air, there's nothing wrong with em.

tbrowne

Thanks K-Spaz, that's a relief! I didn't want to pull the head again. Just wondering why the others would firm and two still soft.

K-Spaz

You might have some bottomed out already for all I know. Perhaps most of em. I'd be inclined to loosen them back up some and re-tighten feeling just for that spring pressure so as to take the slop out of em, then crank the motor over to get some oil in em. Perhaps someone who's done more cam swaps than I will be along to offer up some better advice. Bottom line is, they're just a little hydraulic cylinder. Yes they are spring loaded and will collapse if there's no oil in em.

frodo84

I'm guessing you didn't soak them in engine oil before install?

tbrowne

No, didn't soak them before the install. Read a lot of posts and it seems some think soaking them is important and others don't. I'll have to install the water pump and and a couple more parts before I can spin the motor. Will the instake manifold and fuel lines need to be installed to crank the engine?

K-Spaz

Well if the fuel lines are not installed you'll definitely have to pull the relay for the fuel pump or you'll have gas all over the place.