I bought a rebuilt 292 with about a thousand miles or less on the rebuild.  The cam in the engine is a little too much cam to keep it a driveable street motor and I plan to change it.  When I do, would there be enough of a wear pattern on the lifters to require changing them?  Or can I get by with just installing the cam and leaving the lifters?  Thanks in advance for any help.

Butch Lawson

Manchester,  TN

Butch

   Back in the day we used to have our solid lifters re-ground. Had a convex face put on them. Downside is you still have to pull them and re-install. Pete 

Butch:

For my money I would change the lifters. I know that it's alot of work but according to the experts they have taken a "set" after twenty min's operation. Keep the old lifters in order and sell the cam and lifters as a set and you should be able to recoup your money. By the way what is the grind?

Glen Henderson



Freedom is not Free

Letohatchee, AL

Hello, I realize I'm new here but I have built quite a few engines and if I can I would suggest that you keep the lifters with the cam they were with (and keep them in order with the lobes) and install new lifters with the new cam.

BOB

Bob

  Sorry to disagree but as many parts as I have bought used I WOULD NEVER BUY A USED CAM. How do you know where the used lifters were? And on a Yblock what about the hassel or re-install with the crank in place. Bad idea or REALLY BAD IDEA? You make the call. Pete

actually its not that big of a hassel t change out the lifters with the engine in the vehicle and the crank in place took me an all mighty 20-30 min.

If it aint broke, lets modify it!

1962 Galaxie 500 Town Victoria 4dr. 292 with a nice mild cam.

Salinas California.

Glenn,

The cam that is in the engine is a Lunati.  I took the access plug from the rear of the block and found the grind number and Lunati couldn't find any information on the cam.  Scott at Delta Cams told me the cam had duration of 249/258 @ .050 and lobe lift of .336/.339.  I don't remember the lobe separation but I think it is 108.  I am travelling this week and won't be able to go to the garage and look at the grind number again.  The cam is just more aggressive than I want for a street car.  Looking for more like an Isky E-4.  I heard the engine run before I bought it and knew that the cam change was going to have to happen and will change the lifters too if I need to, was just hoping that I could get by with just changing the cam.  If you think you might be interested in the cam/lifters send me a pm and I'll keep the lifters identified with the hole they came out of.  But I warn you Lunati's young techs can't give you any info about older cams!!

Butch Lawson

Manchester,  TN

Pete,

I agree! I would never buy a used cam either. I was looking at the other aspect of the question, meaning I wouldn't put in a new cam with used lifters, even if they were reground. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

Then MAYBE sell the other cam set if it looks OK (he said it had about a thousand miles on it). That's why I suggested keeping the lifters sorted out.

BOB

Didn't realize that they ever had a Y Block cam. Send it to Mummert and he can put on the Cam Doctor and give you the specs. I don't need it, but someone on ebay will buy it. If the lobes are in good shape and the lifters are reinstalled in the proper order, there is nothing wrong with reusing it. I have rebuilt several engines over the years without replacing the cam or lifters. They just need to go back in the proper order.

Glen Henderson



Freedom is not Free

Letohatchee, AL

Butch,

Sounds as if the engine is out of the car/truck. Shouldn't be to difficult to change out lifters when cam is out.

BOB