62 solid lifters

[Larry C.]

My 62 327/340hp engine is undergoing its second rebuild. First was at 60k+ miles back in late 60s. An engine rebuilder installed Crowler solid lifters with a Duntov 30-30 cam. Now after another 60k+ miles, the engine was disassembled due to leaking head gasket to find that about 8 of the 16 Crowler lifters had come apart internally. Only thing holding the lifter guts in was push rods. The photo with two lifers are the Crowlers, one with the keeper coming out and the other showing the internal part that dropped out after extracting from engine block. Can't say what effect, if any, the lifters coming apart had on the valve train but I had never seen or heard of any solid lifters coming apart.

The other photo shows one original GM lifter that was factory installed in the engine back in 1962. All 16 of the lifers appear to be in good shape with no apparent internal problems.

Have others experienced this problem with Crowler or other after-market brand solid lifters. Will be in need of replacement lifters to go with an NOS 097 cam in the rebuild, so since over-the-counter GM solids are long gone, any suggestions on replacement lifters?

Also, any thoughts on the Crowler lifter problem?

Thanks, Larry

[Ed H.]

Re: 62 solid lifters

Larry,
You might want to check with Jeff Reade, he has the complete 097 cam kit for your car. He operates out of his company American Motoring Memories, in Culver City, Ca,. He is listed in the Driveline.

[Larry C.]

Re: 62 solid lifters

Thanks, Ed, I will check out your recommendation; however, I already have an NOS 097 cam, two as a matter fact. Both were picked up at swap meets over the past several years still in the original shipping tubes.

Anyone have any thoughts on the advisability of having the cam lobes mic'ed prior to installation?

Larry

[Joe L.]

Re: 62 solid lifters

My 62 327/340hp engine is undergoing its second rebuild. First was at 60k+ miles back in late 60s. An engine rebuilder installed Crowler solid lifters with a Duntov 30-30 cam. Now after another 60k+ miles, the engine was disassembled due to leaking head gasket to find that about 8 of the 16 Crowler lifters had come apart internally. Only thing holding the lifter guts in was push rods. The photo with two lifers are the Crowlers, one with the keeper coming out and the other showing the internal part that dropped out after extracting from engine block. Can't say what effect, if any, the lifters coming apart had on the valve train but I had never seen or heard of any solid lifters coming apart.

The other photo shows one original GM lifter that was factory installed in the engine back in 1962. All 16 of the lifers appear to be in good shape with no apparent internal problems.

Have others experienced this problem with Crowler or other after-market brand solid lifters. Will be in need of replacement lifters to go with an NOS 097 cam in the rebuild, so since over-the-counter GM solids are long gone, any suggestions on replacement lifters?

Also, any thoughts on the Crowler lifter problem?

Thanks, Larry

Larry------

I can't say that I've ever heard of mechanical lifters coming apart like this, whether they be Crower or any other. I doubt that Crower actually manufactures these lifters as there are really not too many manufacturing sources for flat tappet lifters, especially the mechanical variety.

Small block Chevrolet engines with mechanical lifters, except possibly 1956, used EDGE ORIFICE type lifters. These can be identified by having the side oil hole in the major diameter of the lifter. These were discontinued by GM many years ago. Federal-Mogul did have such a lifter available once-upon-a-time but they were also discontinued quite some time ago. Both the GM and Federal-Mogul lifters are very hard to find these days.

Most, if not all, mechanical lifters on the market today are PIDDLE VALVE type. These can be identified by having the side oil hole located in the reduced diameter, center area of the lifter. These were originally used for all big blocks. Usually, when used on a small block, these will deliver too much oil to the upper valve train. GM NEVER replaced the edge orifice lifters with the piddle valve type for small block SERVICE. However, these days, piddle valve mechanical lifters are about all you can get. I do not know if using piddle valve lifters for your small block application would contribute to the problem you have experienced. I don't see why it would but one never knows.

[Larry C.]

Re: 62 solid lifters

Hey, Joe,

Thanks for the info on solid lifters. This is photo of the two lifter sets I have showing exactly as you indicated. The 1962 GM lifter is on the bottom with the Crower on top. So, I need to search for "edge orifice" type lifters. The Crower lifters were run for about 60k miles and I never detected any problems, excessive oiling, or otherwise until the engine was disassembled showing many of the Crower lifters guts falling out when turned on end.

Since my original GM lifters appear to be in good condition, would it be a "sin" to re-use in the engine rebuild?

Larry

[Joe L.]

Re: 62 solid lifters

Hey, Joe,

Thanks for the info on solid lifters. This is photo of the two lifter sets I have showing exactly as you indicated. The 1962 GM lifter is on the bottom with the Crower on top. So, I need to search for "edge orifice" type lifters. The Crower lifters were run for about 60k miles and I never detected any problems, excessive oiling, or otherwise until the engine was disassembled showing many of the Crower lifters guts falling out when turned on end.

Since my original GM lifters appear to be in good condition, would it be a "sin" to re-use in the engine rebuild?

Larry

Larry-----


You might get away with it or you might not. I don't like trying to mate used lifters with a new camshaft. If the bottom of the lifters still have a VERY slightly convex surface and "cross-hatch" machining pattern, it might work alright, though.

[Terry D.]

Re: 62 solid lifters

I doubt that any engine builder would advise using old lifters with new cam, just asking for trouble. In the cost of rebuilding an engine new lifters are a small price to pay!

[Larry C.]

Re: 62 solid lifters

Thanks again to all for responses. Now the search for the GM lifters.

Larry

[Joe L.]

Re: 62 solid lifters

Thanks again to all for responses. Now the search for the GM lifters.

Larry

Larry------


There are several sets on eBay right now but they come with pretty stiff prices. GM #5231585.

By the way, the current eBay sellers describe these lifters as also being applicable to 396 and 427. They're wrong. These lifters were NEVER used or specified by GM for any big block. None.

[John D.]

Re: 62 solid lifters

Larry, Federal Mogul sells the lifters you need. AT-992. Very affordable. The lifter history is this. They started off life as TRW's. Then Sealed Power. And now FM.
Like someone said don't use the old lifters with your new cam. Good luck, John

[Joe L.]

Re: 62 solid lifters

Larry, Federal Mogul sells the lifters you need. AT-992. Very affordable. The lifter history is this. They started off life as TRW's. Then Sealed Power. And now FM.
Like someone said don't use the old lifters with your new cam. Good luck, John

John------


The AT-992 are piddle valve type lifters, not the edge orifice type originally used for all 1957-72 small blocks with mechanical lifters. They'll work on a small block but they usually deliver too much oil to the upper valve train. GM never originally used a piddle valve type lifter for any 1957+ small block and they never specified this type for small block SERVICE, either.

[David B.]

Re: 62 solid lifters

Joe, for what it's worth, about 10-12 years ago I purchased a cam and lifter kit, P/N 12364054, from my local Chevy dealer and that kit came with piddle valve lifters.

[Joe L.]

Re: 62 solid lifters

Joe, for what it's worth, about 10-12 years ago I purchased a cam and lifter kit, P/N 12364054, from my local Chevy dealer and that kit came with piddle valve lifters.

David------


I believe those were actually kits made by Crane that were offered through GM Performance Parts. Most aftermarket lifters have been piddle valve for as long as I can remember. These kits were not OEM SERVICE parts. They were essentially aftermarket parts with a GM part number available through GM Performance Parts.

[Joe R.]

Re: 62 solid lifters

Larry------


There are several sets on eBay right now but they come with pretty stiff prices. GM #5231585.

By the way, the current eBay sellers describe these lifters as also being applicable to 396 and 427. They're wrong. These lifters were NEVER used or specified by GM for any big block. None.

Joe, and others,

Here is a couple pics of the 5231585 lifters in the box. Notice the box is labeled Hydraulic Lifters and in the box the lifters are labeled Mechanical Lifters. Good old GM wanted to try and fool us I guess.

PS. Just looked on E-babe and shocked at the asking price of a set or even a half set of 7. Would take half that price for a set in the original boxes pictured below.

JR

JR