[66beaumont]

Pulled my engine out yesterday as I’m doing a swap from th400 to TKX. Heard something in engine as rotating engine stand. Pulled intake and valley pan and surprise





This could have been a disaster. Cannot find the other button?

[tempest1964]

Guess you’ll be dropping the pan.

[Dick Boneske]

What are the odds that the lifters stayed oriented correctly?

[66beaumont]

Originally Posted by tempest1964

Guess you’ll be dropping the pan.

Pan is already off. Can’t find the other button anywhere?

[66beaumont]

No kidding. I’d sure like to know how long I’ve been running it like that. It’s been at least 6000 miles since intake has been off

[ZeGermanHam]

Ugh, so unfortunate. For as much as I like the idea of using roller lifters in my Pontiac, I don't think I ever will. There are just too many stories like this.

[P@blo]

Originally Posted by ZeGermanHam

Ugh, so unfortunate. For as much as I like the idea of using roller lifters in my Pontiac, I don't think I ever will. There are just too many stories like this.

Scary part is these failures are on low mileage engines. Like I said these link-bar lifters would never have been approved for production use by Pontiac engineers for warranty return reasons.

The main selling point of the roller lifters was longevity at a significant cost increase. Take away the longevity and you aren't left with much value and foresee sales dropping off until there are design modifications. A HFT failure is also easier to catch and with far less damage potential when a failure occurs.

Sorry to hear about your troubles OP.

[tempest1964]

Originally Posted by 66beaumont

Pan is already off. Can’t find the other button anywhere?

Did you pull the oil pan as well as the valley pan? I saw where you said you pulled the valley pan. Maybe I misunderstood.

[steve25]

I have seen failures like this where as in your case things did not go fully south and have one of the lifters spin due to 2 reasons.

1) the roller and the cam lobe are parallel to each other ( square ) to a tight enough percentage that little of the needed side forces got generated to spin the lifter.

2) your springs still had control of the valve train.

Had the springs lost control and the lifter then floated off the lobe things would be a far greater mess for you.
Your one of the few that still have a usable block after a issue like this!

I bet you will find that lost link bar button wedged up in between a wrist pin and the piston top above it!

[66beaumont]

Originally Posted by tempest1964

Did you pull the oil pan as well as the valley pan? I saw where you said you pulled the valley pan. Maybe I misunderstood.

Yes pulled the pan. Have looked in every crevice and can’t find other button. Guess I need to look harder it can’t evaporate 😁

[78w72]

do you know what version of lifters they are? original older ones or the "S" current ones?

[Tom Vaught]

Originally Posted by ZeGermanHam

Ugh, so unfortunate. For as much as I like the idea of using roller lifters in my Pontiac, I don't think I ever will. There are just too many stories like this.

Main Reason why I am staying with a Hydraulic Flat Tappet HO RACING camshaft on my STREET 455 engine. Sorry to read about your Roller Lifter failure.

Tom V.

[geeteeohguy]

Originally Posted by ZeGermanHam

Ugh, so unfortunate. For as much as I like the idea of using roller lifters in my Pontiac, I don't think I ever will. There are just too many stories like this.

I agree 100%. It's flat tappet cams for me on every old engine. Been doing it that way for 40 years and 100's of thousands of miles with no parts failures or ruined engines.

[PontiacJim1959]

Originally Posted by geeteeohguy

I agree 100%. It's flat tappet cams for me on every old engine. Been doing it that way for 40 years and 100's of thousands of miles with no parts failures or ruined engines.

One of these days they will learn. The factory engine was not designed for roller cams/lifters and................I guess it must be all the cheap Chinese junk like they used to say about flat tappet cams/lifters.

Get ready for the hot rod crowd/magazine people to begin a resurgence on flat tappet cams/lifters and how much they have improved over the years and are a wiser/cheaper alternative to a roller set-up.

Meanwhile, those of us "old guys" who stuck with what has always worked didn't throw money out the window on the $costly absurd upgrades to a roller set-up only to have taken out an engine or had to re-build it another time at great expense again.

[i82much]

i have comp hyd rollers in an aftermarket block. i will be pretty cranky if they fail and take out the block. but every style of cam has failures, there are no guarantees - you pays your money and you takes your chances.

[tom s]

Those are Shavers.Tom

[DiamondJim]

Are you running the factory valley pan? If so could it have gotten inside the baffled part when you turn the motor upside down? It’s got to me there somewhere.

[tom s]

Kind of weird,I don't know how many Hyd roller engines I have built since they started making Pontiac Hyd roller lifters even the majority are SBC I have not had a failure with Johnsons,Shavers and now a set of Morels.BUT I have had all my engine put together by a hired engine builder?Tom

[RUDOLFSSON]

Lucky deal if that's the only damage !

[78w72]

definitely sucks to see that & glad it wasnt worse damage, i have the shavers in a 467 stroker & will keep my fingers crossed every time i drive it! but the failures of these HR lifters are still very very low compared to how many are in use, just like many other engine parts like cast eagle cranks, some can/have failed but i bet its like .001% or less.

looks like the new sealed power roller lifters without the link bars may be a good option...