The joys of adjustable lifters

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Tony Wheeler

Lynn, Tony, Darrin, can I ask why you chose adjustable lifters in the first place? I've never understood the logic on V8 flatheads, because you can't ACCESS them in service. They make some sense for in-line flatheads, where they equate to adjustable tappets on OHV motors, but even so they still come at the cost of greatly increased weight requiring substantially heavier valve springs.

I have used adjustable lifters made by Mike Davidson at Flatattack Racing. These are actually lighter than Ford factory solid lifters and far easier to adjust than Johnson or 9N lifters. The well known problem with Johnson lifters rotating out of adjustment is partly due to the small thread of the adjusting bolt (What is it? 5/16", 1/4"??) Mike eliminated that by going to 7/8" UNEF thread for the adjustment. I did drill the walls of the lifter bores to use a pin punch to hold the lifter while adjusting it. I used Manley stainless Chev valves (1.6" intake, 1.5" exhaust). Manley make these in a choice of lengths (std, +.100, -.100), but even by choosing the -.100 length, I couldn't use the standard Ford non-adjustable lifter as when these are used with non-Mushroom Head valves, the valve can actually punch through the thin head of the lifter (especially with heavier valve springs).

As for not being able to adjust lifters on the Ford V8 in service, well it can be done, just not with the engine RUNNING. It is probably best to set aside some time to do so, but by removing the Generator, the ball connections of the choke and throttle, and the fuel pipe into the fuel pump, it is then a simple job ( ) to take off the inlet manifold. I have a starter solenoid with a push button on top to enable the engine to be turned over with the starter. You can then either observe the valve train in motion (ie for sticking valves), or turn the crank to adjust particular valves in turn.

These pics are from a few years back when the valvetrain went in. I don't have a better pic of the Flatattack lifters, so I've blown up the portion of the pic.