Basic Lifters Quicky

[Humboldt Cat]

Am getting ready to install new lifters in my 390, and for the first time today I heard you need to prime them first. True? If so, how?
Got a bench grinder and wheel brush as a birthday gift, today, am about to have fun with it in the shop, tonight. Thanks for any input on the lifters, btw.

[yorgatron]

first off,don't use your new bench grinder or wheel brush on'em! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif put them one at a time into a shallow cup full of whatever oil you're gonna use in your engine.then pump them up a few times with a pushrod,you'll feel them stiffen up as the oil gets inside.step two,install.it's that simple-george

[Humboldt Cat]

I KNEW it was a mistake to bring up the bench grinder in the same subject... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif Thanks for the word, Yorg. It's kinda funny to hold a small hydraulic lifter in yer hand and know that's what's causing so much trouble deep inside.
Besides that, it's a good excuse for a 4-barrel conversion. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[Humboldt Cat]

Done and done... except some coolant got under the valley pan when removing the manifold.
Got rid of all of it except of course the very back corners, seems like the only way to get it is to remove the pan (meaning the heads, and want to avoid that, mostly 'cause of head gasket price). Haven't put in the back lifters (one on either side, where slight pools of coolant remain).
Should I worry about those puddles of coolant in the very unreachable back corner?

[DrJ]

I siphon gas out of my truck into a can with a piece of Tygon tubing (clear plastic) and instead of th old stupid sucking on the tube trick which can kill you, I use and empty Kerry Ketchup bottle. I squeesze the bottle and press it up to the tube and let it go and such up the gas.
That trick would probably work on coolant stuck in a cranny if you can get the tube into it.

[ramrod]

I use a cheap turkey baster for such things.Really works good to get the water out of the crannys in your intake manifold after you wash the engine.

[Humboldt Cat]

Good ideas, plus none o' that Prestone aftertaste. Thanks, guys.

[yorgatron]

i used to have a turkey baster in my toolbox for just such occasions but i think some lesbians stole it http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[Morrisman]

A word about the bench grinder: Never get your fingers your between the wire wheel and the tool rest. It hurts, oh man does it ever hurt, especially when you wrench it out and you can see the white bone for a split second, just before the hole fills with hot stinging blood. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif