Inliners International Forums General Discussion Engines One Bad Lifter. Just change that one?

I have been a silent visitor at this great site for quite some time, but the time has finally arrived that I need some advice on one of these inline engines.

I have 2 GM 292's in my boat, so my application is a little different from most of you guys but the engines still have a demanding life. After the PCV valve plugged on my last trip and all 6 quarts of oil was pushed out of the engine, I found myself with a lifter that would do its job at idle but turn the valve into a jack hammer at anything above. I think I saved the engine by abjusting all of the play out of the bad lifter and continued on my trip offshore.

The engine has about 600 hours of run time on it since its last rebuild. Will it be very difficult to get the lifter out of the block once I remove the push rod? Once out, do I simply replace that lifter with a new one or do I need to replace all of them? The engine are basic built work horses. No upgrades and 2-barrel Rochesters on the top. I hope to build 2 new engines this winter, but this one needs to be right because it brings me 100 miles offshore on some weekends.

These engines are run at 3200 RPM's pushing a 9000 lbs. boat for 3-4 hours straight every time I use it. Added this just in case it might influence your answer.

i would replace them all while it is apart. it's cheap insurance on another doing the same thing later. tom

Dear ?

You may not need to replace anything.

With the engine at operating temp. re-adjust ALL the valves following the instructions in any Motors (automotive) manual.

It is exteamly important that you tighten one full turn past 'zero' lash.

If the problem persists, check the pushrod carefully. Sometime they get pluged & wear at the rocker arm end. If this has occured, replace just the rocker/rod involved.

Good luck.

Also well the lifter is out You may want to try and check the cam lobe as well. just for GP.

Thanks for the quick responses guys. I am going to take it down today.

Yes; by all means, if your taking out the lifter.

Simply look at the 'face' (part that rides on cam). It should be convex. If flat or concave you may have a cam problem too.

This rarely occurs on stock engines though.

Digging up this old thread but if your putting new lifters on a old cam is there anything special do to to ensure they wont cause issues with each other?

I am glad I don't have your fuel bill!

Huh?

Nothing 'special' is needed. Simply use a little STP or light lube on the face is all.

This guy probably solved this with a 'proper' adjustment. It's amazing how many do it wrong.

The "fuel cost" of operating the boat is what he meant.

Happy trails.

yeah were doing a running adjustment and i have a few that continue to tick a a full turn and a bit beyond. Im going to pull the rocker cover again and see if they have any spring left in them.

There's something else really wrong then.

Is this that 'junkyard engine' you were testing??