Sticky Lifters
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 841
Likes: 0
From: High Desert California
Sticky Lifters
I'm in the process of changing my cam and lifters on an 81. This is not the first time I've done something like this but the first time I've encountered such sticky lifters. Is this bad? Can someone tell me what's wrong with this? The old lifters were just so difficult to pull out!!! It took me 45 minutes that should take less than a minute to do......Please respond
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,711
Likes: 43
From: San Antonio TX
What's normal depends on how well the engine was maintained. In an engine that has seen hard use and spotty maintenance, it's normal due to varnish and deposit buildup in the lifter bore and on the lifter. It should go without saying that it would be nice if you honed out the lifter bores but you can normally only do this safely if the engine is completely torn down. Otherwise, soak a raq in laquer thinner and clean out the bore as best you can. You'll probably want to run Marvel Mystery Oil in the engine for many, many oil changes.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,071
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
When my cam went flat I ran marvel mystery oil in my engine on the way to the shop (20 - 25 mile drive). They forewarned me that they may be stuck before they got in to them. They called me when they pulled them out and said they came out easily. Probably thanks to that mystery crap. I'm not a big fan of putting wierd stuff in my engine, my dad always tells me to put like slick50 in there but I always refuse to.
