Y Block Lifters


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By Dave C - 8 Years Ago

Question for Y block engine builders / racers or ?
Is there any reason other than money that the Y block lifer bores could not be bored and bushed to accept a standard solid lifter?
I assume when building a performance Y block that the lifter bores are checked for correct placement and corrected if they are out of spec.
Just thinking that if they could be converted it would open up a huge selection of cams including hydraulic lifters, solid and hydraulic rollers.

If Ted reads this, I'll be coming by to see you at some point.  I bought a 55 Victoria 2 door HT I'm restoring as a driver, but I'm sure I will not be able to stand it stock..lol

Dave Covey
By charliemccraney - 8 Years Ago
Most things like this are money so all reasons have to do with that.  The amount you would spend fitting the lifters will far outweigh any benefit.  They would potentially be a detriment since the larger lifter face of the stock Y lifter allows for a more aggressive profile - one reason mushroom lifters are sometimes banned in competitions.  A retrofitted roller would be great if it could be figured out, but still with an impractical cost.for most people.

There is not enough material in that area of the block to do that easily.

Hydraulic lifters would be a bigger undertaking because you would have to figure out how to get oil to the lifters so they will function correctly, as well as figuring out how to fit them in the first place.
By Ted - 8 Years Ago
The majority of blocks were not cast to accommodate lifter bore machining that would allow using 0.875” diameter lifters.  There’s simply not enough material there.  While some of the blocks could likely handle a 0.625” diameter shank as found on some of the diesel engines, those lifters are on the heavy side and would require an increase in valve spring pressure in which to compensate.  And those lifters are still solid tappet in design.  As Charlie brings up, plumbing for hydraulic lifters on a stock block would be cumbersome.  There was a movement a few years back to make a brand new block that would have been 4” bore capable and using 0.875” diameter lifter bores with hydraulic lifter capability but there simply were not enough people at the time willing to put their hands up and say “I want one”.
By Dave C - 8 Years Ago
It’s been a long time since I’ve been inside a Y block (60’s) I don’t remember how much material is available around the lifter bore. But it would make sense if there wasn’t enough meat there.
I hadn’t even thought about the oiling issue, I had forgotten the lifters were splash oiled and no oil galley until mentioned. Adding an oil galley for hydraulics would be an undertaking.

I need to get a new cam for the motor in my dragster after breaking a lifter a couple of weeks back and that got me thinking about all the profiles available for the others and wondered “why not”.
You guys set me straight on that idea.

Thanks
Dave