Collapsed Lifters
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
From: Austin TX
Collapsed Lifters
I have a 383 with 350 miles on it. It has a Crane hydraulic roller cam and lifters. Two lifters are collapsed. (I think this is the correct term. The lifters look fine, but won't pump up. They did not make noise for the first 275 miles. They would pump up after a few minutes for the next 75 miles. Now they won't pump up at all.) These are my questions:
Can the lifters be rebuilt, i.e. put new springs in them? (If it can be done I would replace all 16 springs.) If so, is it worthwhile and where do you get the springs?
Should I replace the two lifters or the whole set? Retrofit hydraulic rollers are not cheap. I would rather buy a whole new set than have to take it apart again.
I think this happened because the engine was built and sat around for a year and a half. It probably wasn't turned very often if at all.
The lifters are the number 2 intake and number 5 exhaust.
Can the lifters be rebuilt, i.e. put new springs in them? (If it can be done I would replace all 16 springs.) If so, is it worthwhile and where do you get the springs?
Should I replace the two lifters or the whole set? Retrofit hydraulic rollers are not cheap. I would rather buy a whole new set than have to take it apart again.
I think this happened because the engine was built and sat around for a year and a half. It probably wasn't turned very often if at all.
The lifters are the number 2 intake and number 5 exhaust.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,384
Likes: 6,408
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
It has been my experience that if the lifters are fairly new and they collapse/fail to pump up that the cause is a little bit of dirt or crap in the lifter body. This can cause the lifter plunger to jam in the body and fail to pump up (due to the very tight tolerances). All you need to do is to remove the lifter(s), pop the snap ring, and disassemble the lifter (providing it's not jammed so hard that you can't get the plunger out. I've had to smack the lifter on a piece of wood to get the plunger loose on occasion). Clean up the body and plunger really well and assure that the plunger slips easily and smoothly into the body. Lube it up, assemble it, and put it back in the engine. Works every time. 
