56 hydraulic lifters

[Thomas G.]

I have purchased a new camshaft (CS 274) and hydraulic lifters to replace the oiriginal solid lifter 225HP cam. The rear cam bearing is the original 2-hole variety, but I don't want to remove/replace or modifiy it. I do want to be sure that the new hydraulic lifters have adequate oil.

I'm thinking that I should have my machine shop grind in a notch like was originally supplied in the rear journal of 55-56 passenger car cams with hydraulic lifters. This was much deeper and longer than the solid lifter notch. Will this work for this new cam and hydraulic lifters?

To carry this idea one step further, should I convert to full flow oil to the lifter galleries? This could be easily accomplished by grinding a groove all the way around the journal. One concern is that the bearing oil holes appear to be only 1/8 inch diameter. Are those holes too small for adequate oil flow.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions or comments.

Tom

[Clem Z.]

Re: 56 hydraulic lifters

here is a picture of the difference in the groove.