Lifter Stuck in it's Bore!!!!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,802
Likes: 241
From: Niles, MI
Lifter Stuck in it's Bore!!!!
I'm in the process of swapping cams. One lifter won't come out of it's bore. I can pull it up about a half an inch and then its like it hits a dead stop! 
The only thing I can think of is that its flared out on it's base. So how do I get it out. I'm thinking maybe I can pull it up as far as it will go and then cut off the part that is exposed. Then maybe I can get the rest out thru the cam bore.
Ideas?
The only thing I can think of is that its flared out on it's base. So how do I get it out. I'm thinking maybe I can pull it up as far as it will go and then cut off the part that is exposed. Then maybe I can get the rest out thru the cam bore.Ideas?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,802
Likes: 241
From: Niles, MI
Originally Posted by yellow 72
There is a lifter puller tool, looks like a little slide hammer for tight lifters.
Depending on how mushroomed it is that might work.
Depending on how mushroomed it is that might work.
It comes up the first half inch very freely and then its just like it hits something.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,608
Likes: 3
From: Canberra AUSTRALIA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
I know you are worried about damaging the block getting the lifter out but it may already be damaged, otherwise the ilfter would come out right?
Any way you can sand/file with a dremel the lifter edge from where you can see it to reduce its size? You then have a problem of metal filings in the engine which is also ugly.
Man what a conundrum!
Hope you can fix it.
Pete
Any way you can sand/file with a dremel the lifter edge from where you can see it to reduce its size? You then have a problem of metal filings in the engine which is also ugly.
Man what a conundrum!
Hope you can fix it.
Pete
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,135
Likes: 2
From: Dayton Oh
Don't get excited. Probably just tarnish keeping the lifter from coming out. Just get some cheap break cleaner and keep squirting the lifter while you move it up-down and left-right. If this doesn't do the trick, then the bottom of the lifter is screwed. You'll have to drop it down to the cam area of the motor. Good luck. 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 5,202
Likes: 10
From: cincinnati ohio
St. Jude Donor '09
Originally Posted by marshrat99
You'll have to drop it down to the cam area of the motor. Good luck.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 584
Likes: 0
From: Okemos MI
Don't Worry
Kid Vette,
Marshrat 99 is probably correct. It is varnish. I had the same problem last month when I changed my cam & lifters. Only I had almost all of them that didn’t want to come out
Here’s my advice, I used kroil but any good penetrating oil will work like marvel, PB blaster, liquid wrench ect.. Spray the block / lifter and work the lifter up and down and around (very important to go up and down this gets the penetrating oil down in the lifter bore) you will start to feel it getting easier and start coming out farther. Be patient and keep working it.
Good luck
John
Marshrat 99 is probably correct. It is varnish. I had the same problem last month when I changed my cam & lifters. Only I had almost all of them that didn’t want to come out
Here’s my advice, I used kroil but any good penetrating oil will work like marvel, PB blaster, liquid wrench ect.. Spray the block / lifter and work the lifter up and down and around (very important to go up and down this gets the penetrating oil down in the lifter bore) you will start to feel it getting easier and start coming out farther. Be patient and keep working it.
Good luck
John
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,128
Likes: 21
From: North Alabama
Originally Posted by yellow 72
Problem with that is...if you can't remove the lifter, you can't remove the cam to drop the lifter out the bottom
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,056
Likes: 40
From: Life is Messy, Bring a mop
Originally Posted by Lotus76
Kid Vette,
Marshrat 99 is probably correct. It is varnish. I had the same problem last month when I changed my cam & lifters. Only I had almost all of them that didn’t want to come out
Here’s my advice, I used kroil but any good penetrating oil will work like marvel, PB blaster, liquid wrench ect.. Spray the block / lifter and work the lifter up and down and around (very important to go up and down this gets the penetrating oil down in the lifter bore) you will start to feel it getting easier and start coming out farther. Be patient and keep working it.
Good luck
John
Marshrat 99 is probably correct. It is varnish. I had the same problem last month when I changed my cam & lifters. Only I had almost all of them that didn’t want to come out
Here’s my advice, I used kroil but any good penetrating oil will work like marvel, PB blaster, liquid wrench ect.. Spray the block / lifter and work the lifter up and down and around (very important to go up and down this gets the penetrating oil down in the lifter bore) you will start to feel it getting easier and start coming out farther. Be patient and keep working it.
Good luck
John
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,727
Likes: 38
From: Fremont CA
If you can pull it out a 1/2 inch, you can put some Vice Grips on that sucker and get it all the way (comming from a guy who has destroyed more than 1 of the "trick" lifter pulling tools in his life.)
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,802
Likes: 241
From: Niles, MI
Thanks for all the input everybody! I guess the consensus is that I can yank that thing out without destroying the bore?
I've decided that I'm going to pull the engine now anyway. I got antifreeze in the crankcase last fall the last time I drove it. See Drove Vette to Work, Brought It Home On a Flatbed . From what I have been hearing about antifreeze eating up bearing material and now this, I think I'll just go through the whole thing
I've decided that I'm going to pull the engine now anyway. I got antifreeze in the crankcase last fall the last time I drove it. See Drove Vette to Work, Brought It Home On a Flatbed . From what I have been hearing about antifreeze eating up bearing material and now this, I think I'll just go through the whole thing
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,668
Likes: 43
From: Eastern US XX
Originally Posted by Lotus76
Kid Vette,
Marshrat 99 is probably correct. It is varnish. I had the same problem last month when I changed my cam & lifters. Only I had almost all of them that didn’t want to come out
Here’s my advice, I used kroil but any good penetrating oil will work like marvel, PB blaster, liquid wrench ect.. Spray the block / lifter and work the lifter up and down and around (very important to go up and down this gets the penetrating oil down in the lifter bore) you will start to feel it getting easier and start coming out farther. Be patient and keep working it.
Good luck
John
Marshrat 99 is probably correct. It is varnish. I had the same problem last month when I changed my cam & lifters. Only I had almost all of them that didn’t want to come out
Here’s my advice, I used kroil but any good penetrating oil will work like marvel, PB blaster, liquid wrench ect.. Spray the block / lifter and work the lifter up and down and around (very important to go up and down this gets the penetrating oil down in the lifter bore) you will start to feel it getting easier and start coming out farther. Be patient and keep working it.
Good luck
John
