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solid lifters?

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Old Oct 15, 2022 | 01:12 PM
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Default solid lifters?

well after removing my valve covers it appears that i have solid lifters or someone put poly locks on on the rockers-it also looks like i have different heads on this #3917291-d77 is stamped.
with out any info on what settings this needs what do you recommend?


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Oct 15, 2022, 02:20 PM
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Originally Posted by fparkin
if their solid lifters you be adjusting them a lot, they require allot of attention.
That doesn't match my experience with solid lifter small blocks which goes back more than 50+ years.

The last time I adjusted the solids on my FI '60 was 2013 and that was only because I had to R&R one cylinder head. Before that..... well, I don't remember but it was probably around 1984.

Bottom line, solid lifter engines are not high maintenance.
Old Oct 15, 2022 | 01:52 PM
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PolyLoks can be used with either solid or hydraulic lifters. So their presence doesn't signify anything in particular.
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Old Oct 15, 2022 | 02:05 PM
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if their solid lifters you be adjusting them a lot, they require allot of attention.
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Old Oct 15, 2022 | 02:20 PM
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Originally Posted by fparkin
if their solid lifters you be adjusting them a lot, they require allot of attention.
That doesn't match my experience with solid lifter small blocks which goes back more than 50+ years.

The last time I adjusted the solids on my FI '60 was 2013 and that was only because I had to R&R one cylinder head. Before that..... well, I don't remember but it was probably around 1984.

Bottom line, solid lifter engines are not high maintenance.
Old Oct 15, 2022 | 02:40 PM
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Originally Posted by jim lockwood
That doesn't match my experience with solid lifter small blocks which goes back more than 50+ years.

The last time I adjusted the solids on my FI '60 was 2013 and that was only because I had to R&R one cylinder head. Before that..... well, I don't remember but it was probably around 1984.

Bottom line, solid lifter engines are not high maintenance.
I agree.
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Old Oct 15, 2022 | 03:04 PM
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I had poly locks on my 283 Nova with hydraulic lifters.
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Old Oct 15, 2022 | 03:29 PM
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Based on the intake and heads, highly doubtful it has solid lifters. Easy enough to test though and you can usually hear the difference.
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Old Oct 15, 2022 | 03:57 PM
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Installed them on my '67 L79 when I did a cam swap and valve job. After 500 mile run in, I switched to roller rockers and back to standard rocker arm nuts.


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Old Oct 15, 2022 | 04:05 PM
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i think that is what i am going to do
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Old Oct 15, 2022 | 04:15 PM
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My 2.8 V6 in the Capri had solids, always adjusting.
Finally had enough & yanked the entire drivetrain.
Did a V8 conversion with all the goods.\



Rock on Santana! Rock on!
Six decades strong!

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Old Oct 15, 2022 | 05:11 PM
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I have solid lifters in my '61.. No locks on them.
I set the lash before my 6000 mile cross-country trip last year, plus a 1200 mile trip this summer.
Checking them after I got home, after 10000 miles, 2 or 3 had drifted slightly.. maybe .002. max.

​​​​​​​



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Old Oct 15, 2022 | 05:33 PM
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Originally Posted by Nowhere Man
Being 77 heads they have to be one of the worst heads GM ever casted. So really is your engine
77 heads? He has 291s that were cast on April 7, 1967. 64 cc chambers. Either 1.94 or 2.02 valves. Pretty decent heads, I would say.

Rich
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Old Oct 15, 2022 | 05:36 PM
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Originally Posted by MidShark
77 heads? He has 291s that were cast on April 7, 1967. 64 cc chambers. Either 1.94 or 2.02 valves. Pretty decent heads, I would say.

Rich
well am wrong there and not sure what I was reading I'll delete it
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Old Oct 15, 2022 | 09:49 PM
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Originally Posted by fparkin
if their solid lifters you be adjusting them a lot, they require allot of attention.
Myth

291 heads were GM parts replacements for just about any of the early 2.02/1.60 units.

You should pull the Manifold and see what you have, 695 top oiling type solid lifters or 585 top limited oiling type solid lifers. As you have roller tip type rockers, I would run the 695 or comparable type lifters as they aren't full rollers. The adjustments are more determined by the camshaft, so you will need to ID that.
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Old Oct 16, 2022 | 09:35 AM
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Originally Posted by ukester
…….
with out any info on what settings this needs what do you recommend?
Measure the current lash adjustments both intake and exhaust, Then maintain that lash setting….. (if you find a few that are looser than most, just adjust them to the “majority”). Who knows what’s in the engine? Could be a 097 cam, could be a 30-30, could be some aftermarket thing.
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Old Oct 16, 2022 | 10:33 AM
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Think the "adjusting them all the time" came from one of two things

-Not being adjusted properly in the first place
-Using the factory nuts over and over..you can ( Ihave) but they are supposedly 1 time use pieces
they can get loose over time. Probably why the guy put those polylocks on there bet that lash never budges.

Like adjusting solids with the engine stone cold, 1 cyl at a time. EOIC method..takes longer but its foolproof.
Love the way they run....kinda seamless like that OHC feel...and of course the sound.
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Old Oct 16, 2022 | 10:41 AM
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If you have clearance between the rocker too and the valve stem you may have solids. If not you surely have hydraulics.
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Old Oct 16, 2022 | 06:43 PM
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Default solid lifters

Originally Posted by fparkin
if their solid lifters you be adjusting them a lot, they require allot of attention.
I adjusted my LT1 cammed 327 after 10,000 miles and they were barely out. This is with stock rocker nuts
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