Tearing in to a few of my 292's laying around and have found one low mileage motor that blew a head gasket (evidently), but the camshaft and lifters (don't know why I put "tappets" in the title, but I do have a few gray hairs already:w00t look really, really good. Can I use the old lifters if I go with a new cam ground for a little more power, or should I get a set of new ones?

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com

You could run the old cam/ lifters as a set, but if you go with a new cam you'd have to have the lifters re-surfaced...

BOO- YA!!!

Hello; I believe your lifters can be resurfaced. This was very common years ago. You could probably do it yourself with some 600 grit paper and a sheet of glass. You just want to lightly scuff the face without destroying the curve (radius) of the lifter face. Use lite pressure and a figure 8 pattern. Pete

Check the hardness of the new cam against the old one. I did just what you are refereing to 20yrs ago with a used aftermarket cam and it worked fine, 20,000 miles late and I still have the cam.  Do use a good break-in lube and Light springs on the valves till the cam and lifters seat. 2000 rpms for 30 minutes. If you are a gambling man?

Gary Ryan San Antonio.TX.

Not to sound like I am completely ignorant, but is the resurfacing somewhat like honing your cylinder bores for a new set of rings? I take it that the sandpaper process takes the smooth edge off the lobes?

Thanks fellas...

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com