235 Lifters: Change Solid to Hydraulic?

[62ShortStep]

My '62 235 uses solid lifters; with a gap of .018 at the exhaust, the thing sure does clatter. My sons' '55 Bel Air 235 runs almost silent with hydraulic lifters.

I read that the cars use hydraulic lifters instead of solid. Apparently the engines are identical...even the engines put in trucks have the correctly drilled passages for the hydraulic lifters.

My truck is not used for heavy duty work, so extra valve lash isn't really needed (I think).

Can I swap my solid lifters for hydraulic? Can I use the same cam?

thanks!

[60ratrod]

i would think that you have to swap to a hyd cam with the hyd lifters but i could be wrong here.

[68gmsee]

As I know it, there is a difference between solid and hydraulic cams. If it's a high mileage truck it's probably due anyway.

[stich626]

this depends on you..
you can drop hyd lifters on the cam in there as long as you understand doing so can take out the cam lobes and if that happens you are rebuilding the engine..
if you're ok with that, by all means try it.. it's a hit of miss.. thing..
what I would do is this. take your valve cover and engine side covers off..
find a place local to you that sprays in bed liner.. stop by and ask if while spraying a truck if they'd spray the out side of the side covers and the outside of the valve cover..
you'll have to get them very clean and sand them up some..
a 6 pack of beer or a ten spot should cover the cost..(as it'll cost almost nothing for the guy to spray your small parts as he's doing a truck bed)
take them home, paint them if you don't like black/charcoal and re install..
it'll cost you the 6 pack and a few gaskets.. and be much quieter..
if the liner fix doesn't make it quiet enough for you.. you got a nice crinkle look on the covers.. and a little time spent..
good luck

[62ShortStep]

Thanks for input guys. I'll try to find more info about the cams.

The engine is very low miles and was rebuilt by the PO. Judging by his inability to finish the truck, I bet the engine is barely broken in.

[68gmsee]

Originally Posted by 62ShortStep

.....The engine is very low miles and was rebuilt by the PO. Judging by his inability to finish the truck, I bet the engine is barely broken in.

In this case, spend a couple hundred or so and get a cam and lifter kit.

http://www.northernautoparts.com/

http://www.northernautoparts.com/ECa...ecat_engine=63

[62ShortStep]

Originally Posted by 68gmsee

In this case, spend a couple hundred or so and get a cam and lifter kit.

I'm sure that an engineered solution to the question can be found.

[Wrenchbender Ret]

I dont have the specs here right now but ive always set them at .013 on the ex. & .008 on the intake. If done right & they are all even, the small ticking sounds good to me.

[62ShortStep]

Originally Posted by Wrenchbender Ret

I dont have the specs here right now but ive always set them at .013 on the ex. & .008 on the intake. If done right & they are all even, the small ticking sounds good to me.

.013 would help a lot with the noise. My 60/62 manual says to set the exh at .018. I know the pushrods are pretty long, but .018 sounds excessive.

Have you been using .013 for a long time? Does it still work well in high-heat summer months?

Thanks

[cdowns]

my 57manual says .006 and .013

remember that they should b set at operating temp

[62ShortStep]

Originally Posted by cdowns

my 57manual says .006 and .013

Wow, that's big difference from '57 to '60! Sounds like I should try .006/.013 before I do something more serious.

[dwcsr]

If you can't get it quite pull the rockers off and look at the face of the rocker that contacts the valve. It can get very worn and and no amount of adjusting will fix the noise. You would need either new rockers or have the old ones refaced. The other noise issue is the shaft gets worn and the rocker get wobbly and again no amount of adjusting will fix the noise. You can get a rebuilt rocker assembly for about $200. Properly adjusted with good parts you should really not hear much noise at all on a solid lifter 235.

[62ShortStep]

Originally Posted by dwcsr

pull the rockers off and look at the face ...the shaft gets worn and the rocker get wobbly

Good advice Dave, I'll check them this weekend.

[DLOE65]

solid lifters will need to be adjusted every few months, I'd go with hydraulic lifters. I think you will have to change the cam too though. call clifford performance or langdon Stovebolt. Those guys know there stuff and are very friendly.