attn: 4x4HIGH ref:BBC lifters

[johnnychimpo]

I bought an '86 Suburban w/ a 454. The PO told me it was parked because of a lifter collapsing & no money to fix it. He gave me two lifters soaking in oil to fix it with but I have no Idea where to start to find the problem. I havent heard the engine run but I don't want to cause any damage by trying to start it.

The truck has been sitting for a while with the pass side valve cover and one of the rocker arms/push rod off as well as the acessories & brackets.

The engine has a set of 781 heads, aluminum intake & headers but I have no idea on the internals. It looks like someone set it up to tow.

Where's a good place to start with diagnosing any problems?

I found these "inexpensive" lifters on evilbay would these be satisfactory or should I go with a brand name?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Brand-New-Chevy-350-383-400-SBC-BBC-Hydraulic-Lifters_W0QQitemZ120362361427QQcmdZViewItemQQptZRace_Car_Parts?hash=item1c0627e253&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=72%3A1171|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318

 

[4X4HIGH]

So is your question wanting to know how to determine which lifter is bad? If so and he said it has a collapsed lifter that means that it isn't pumping up and therefor you should be able to press on the rocker arm just above the pushrod and find the one(s) that you can depress and those are the lifters that are bad.

 

[johnnychimpo]

Thanks. Should I replace all 16 while I have the intake off or will I be alright just replacing the bad ones?

 

[4X4HIGH]

Thanks. Should I replace all 16 while I have the intake off or will I be alright just replacing the bad ones?

If you think you can find all the bad lifters then there's no reason to replace more than needed, however it is alot of work to have to tear it back apart again and if you can afford all new lifters then i would suggest going that route. Lifters rarely go bad this way but if you already have one or more that are bad there is no telling if or when another will go bad.

 

[johnnychimpo]

What about the bargain lifters? Should I just buy some Crane, Comp etc?

 

[4X4HIGH]

Crane went out of business and they didn't make the lifters anyways. Comp Cams lifters are expensive. The largest lifter company was Johnson lifters and they went out of business a long time ago and i'm not sure if they are back up and running again or not. Just buy some sealed power lifters (these are the most common these days).

 

[johnnychimpo]

Crane went out of business and they didn't make the lifters anyways. Comp Cams lifters are expensive. The largest lifter company was Johnson lifters and they went out of business a long time ago and i'm not sure if they are back up and running again or not. Just buy some sealed power lifters (these are the most common these days).

Thanks again. I do appreciate your wisdom.