Help - Just One Pair Needed
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 201
Likes: 37
From: White Bear Lake, MN
Help - Just One Pair Needed
I am attempting to measure the piston to valve clearance on a Gen I 383 SBC I am building for my 1971 LT! restoration. I am installing Howard's Retrofit hydraulic roller lifters but based on Howard's advice, need a pair of linked solid roller lifters for checking the clearance so the hydraulic lifter won't compress. I have been unable to find just one pair as every source I have searched only sells them in complete sets. Does anyone know where I can find just one pair, or possibly have an old one I can buy?
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 201
Likes: 37
From: White Bear Lake, MN
Thanks but I already have installed the checking springs but Howard’s (and others) recommend using a solid lifter to check since even soaking in oil wouldn’t prevent hydraulics from some compression since the engine isn’t running to keep them pumped up.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 201
Likes: 37
From: White Bear Lake, MN
Not answering the question
I didn’t post the question to start a debate about what lifters and springs to use to check P/V clearance but where to find a suitable solid roller lifter.
Old Pro Solo Guy
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 8,032
Likes: 4,387
From: Marlton NJ
A solid roller lifter would have a shorter and different height than a hydraulic roller lifter.
So that method will not work at all.
Forget that method, someone gave you bad info.
Pull the regular valve springs, and use the light checking springs.
That is the way it is done, in my best friends race engine shop I worked at.
Unless you are dealing with all solids.
Hydraulic lifters have a spring inside also, and the checking springs are even lighter.
And do not soak the lifters in oil before installation.
If you do you will have a very hard time setting the lifter pre-load.
Here is a good video that describes the method we used:
So that method will not work at all.
Forget that method, someone gave you bad info.
Pull the regular valve springs, and use the light checking springs.
That is the way it is done, in my best friends race engine shop I worked at.
Unless you are dealing with all solids.
Hydraulic lifters have a spring inside also, and the checking springs are even lighter.
And do not soak the lifters in oil before installation.
If you do you will have a very hard time setting the lifter pre-load.
Here is a good video that describes the method we used:
Last edited by leigh1322; Jul 28, 2025 at 10:53 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2025
Posts: 1,672
Likes: 582
I am attempting to measure the piston to valve clearance on a Gen I 383 SBC I am building for my 1971 LT! restoration. I am installing Howard's Retrofit hydraulic roller lifters but based on Howard's advice, need a pair of linked solid roller lifters for checking the clearance so the hydraulic lifter won't compress. I have been unable to find just one pair as every source I have searched only sells them in complete sets. Does anyone know where I can find just one pair, or possibly have an old one I can buy?
Thank you.
Thank you.
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Old Pro Solo Guy
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 8,032
Likes: 4,387
From: Marlton NJ
There is a lot of bad advice floating around on the internet, and car guys these days
The trick is knowing how to verify your source, and separate the "wheat from the chaff".
I tried teaching that to my chemistry students for many years, they were just interested in the quickest google answer, even if it was wrong.
The trick is knowing how to verify your source, and separate the "wheat from the chaff".
I tried teaching that to my chemistry students for many years, they were just interested in the quickest google answer, even if it was wrong.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,180
Likes: 1,176
From: out of nowhere
A shame, but the truth. Sure am glad to be in the know about it though. When researching, I go crazy deep. Sometimes peoples real life rebuttals or replies in the threads, blogs, videos tells a better story/gives a better solution than the “content creator’s” (or too often, a biased, paid “influencer’s”) message does.
