What Ted said! Back in the early days of overheads there was a lot of problems with cam and lifter wear. Probably part of it was the oils available back then, but much of it was metallurgical. They/we had to learn what to make the parts from and how to harden them. Sounds simple today, but everybody had problems. Even the the fantastic (?) GM small blocks were and are problematic in that area. The problems are compounded by the fact that everybody wants to build the stuff out of the cheapest metals or alloys possible. Make a difference when you manufacture a million or so engines a year.
Ted and some of the other "Geezers" here will remember when Isky's "Chilled Iron" lifters were the only way to go. He spent a lot of time working out the correct combination of materials for cams, and heat treat, and cam profiles, blah, blah.

Todays oils, as we have discussed at length here, are designed for roller lifters, which is a big reason why this is back on the front burner again.

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

“Hardening” is a whole ‘nother science in itself. I see enough mishaps in hardening from those people that know what they are doing to be glad it’s not done at just any corner shop. Without the experience and the proper measuring equipment, it’s hit and miss at best.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

I realize from the cost perspective, it would add more.
It just seemed logical to me that a place that can regrind with the proper crown might also have a way that's cost effective to harden them after resurfacing. If it's their business, they might be able to do several hundred at a time.
I didn't know reground lifters were not hardened, so now I would not consider them even for a stock build. Without hardening, only half of the job is done and apparently Ford thought hardening was necessary even for stock builds.


Lawrenceville, GA

Charlie, Of course. But the cost for a small volume of parts would probably exceed the cost of new ones. You'd need to anneal the parts, then re-harden them. I obviously can't tell you what that would cost at every heat treat facility, but the furnaces or salt baths are usually designed for hundreds or thousands of parts per heat. You'd pay the same price for 16 that Ford paid for many hundreds or thousands. Seems like a no win situation. Having said this, somebody will find a place that'll do it for 10 bucks, I'm sure!

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

Then you're talking more money, Where's the savings other than thinner lighter lifters??

-Gary Burnette-

Can they not be hardened again, after the regrind? It seems like that is what really needs to be done.


Lawrenceville, GA

Reground lifters left me in a bad way. I had sent mine to a Calif. specialist to have them reground. They looked great. I then installed them on a new Isky cam. The springs are over 200lbs open. My beautiful cam went flat and Broke 2 lifters in exactly 20 minutes of break in time. I phoned "ED" himself. He told me that should not have happened. But after flushing and reassembly alone with a new Isky cam, I used Isky Newlifters NO PROBLEMS! Oh sidebar "ED" offered to send me a new cam free. I did purchase the second cam from him. I figured it was my bad.

I would say with heavy springs and high lift I would Always go new. Just from my experience>

Jim

  Jim Rowe Elkhorn, NE

Comp cams are selling new lifters now and they look like Iskys to me.

-Gary Burnette-

I'm really not certain how Ford "Surface Hardened" the lifters. there are numerous ways to do this, depending on the material they were made from. Probably, they're plain cast iron with a carburized or salt bath hardening. In either case the thickness of the hardened portion is going to be .010" or less. I don't believe that regrinding will remove less than that. Second issue, where or how did the regrinder get the specification for the shape of the foot. This curvature will be critical to the life of the lifter, AND your new expensive camshaft. If you want to play "Russian Roulette" with a new cam, have at it. Me, I'll get new lifters from somebody I trust knows all this and does not want to warranty his products, but rather sell you something that works the first time.
That probably does not include Chinese or Taiwanese lifters on E-Bay. Mummert or Ted Eatons Isky parts would be my choice.

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

Paul, you are so right on this when comes to insurance on maybe a tear down or not. How thin is the hardness that's left on the lifters after a regrind? Early ford lifters were thicker than some of the after markets so reground ford might be a better than the after market, just my opinion and for the little difference if any in price I'm with you.

-Gary Burnette-