Poly lifter help

[jim121960]

I'm in the middle of what started out as a simple valve job and has turned into rings, bearings, timing chain, etc. etc. I need to learn to leave well enough alone. Anyway, I pulled the intake and the valley was full of crud. I cleaned out the mess and now I want to remove and inspect the lifters and cam. I think it might also be a good idea to run a snake through the oil galleries while the cam is out because I was experiencing high oil pressure prior to the rebuild (80 lbs!). The problem is that I can't pull the lifters out of the bores. I've tried cleaning them on the bottom where they accumulate carbon and oil residue but they won't pop out the top of the bore. Am I missing some trick on these poly engines? Am I right to want to pull the cam/lifters or should I just leave them alone? The lobes look fine without scoring but I have no idea about the cam bearings. Thanks for any input.

[jim121960]

I'm the only one that's ever had a problem extracting a their poly lifters?

[dodgeboykim]

All I can add the more you pull apart the closer you are to a full rebuild.

[Txas2step]

Assuming you have pulled the heads. With the lifter on the top of the lobe, should be enough at the center of the lifter to pull and twist it out. If you are not replacing the lifters, make sure you mark them for original position.

[kurt]

I have one of these I got at some autoparts store years ago. Its really to pull the lifters W/O taking off the manifiold but It gets a good grip on the lifters to pull them out.

http://tools.boxwrench.net/valve-lifter-puller.htm

[catfishmoon]

I have had one of my polys in this way. I'm sure you have the cam out. It could be that the lifters are mushroomed. If you try to pull too much . You could mess up the bore, Try to push them threw . If you don't have the pan off ,get the cardboard tube from the roll of X-mas paper you have in the closet. Cut a long oval shaped hole in it . You can slide this in the cam hole and catch the lifters one at a time. As you push them through. I sent my cam and $130.00 to isky It took about 6 weeks but they reground it to what I wanted and shipped it back. But I think Edelbrock offers a Poly cam . Then you call this place ,if there still open .Rocker arm rebuilders. 530-378-1075 in Anderson Ca.They refaced my lifters . Because a new set of Poly lifters were $240.00 I got a high energy type grind on my cam and the lifters redone all for under $200.00 . That was 6 years ago .So it may be more . But try bushing the lifters before you get too ugly on them . Catfishmoon

[moporridge]

Yeah as stated above if they are mushroomed from wear you will ruin the bores for sure pulling them out the top. Push them out the bottom for sure . Adding some Marvel Mystery oil to the lifter valley and twisting lifter will help break down the baked on brown oil crud that sometimes keeps them stuck in place, sometimes thats all it is if your lucky. That snake oil really does have a use after all !