I know in the manual you can do it in the car, but it says take the oil pan off. Can you do the lifters without pulling the pan? Is it possible? I ordered my cam and lifters so they should be arriving soon

1957 Fairlane

The lifters are installed from inside the block as they have a mushroom head, unless you have a lot of skill and expeirence, even with the mystical factory tool it is not for 1st timers, experience has shown it is easier to remove engine and do. You will soon get more ideas here but thats my view. Are you going to install new timeing chain also?.

  AussieBill            YYYY    Forever Y Block     YYYY

 Down Under, Australia

I reckon you would need universal joints in your fingers to get the lifters around the crank and into the holes with the engine in situ.
All I've got is arthritis

Gary - 1958 Star Customline and 1940 Ford Deluxe Hotrod

Lifters can be installed by way of the cam tunnel without pulling the pan using a tool that was designed for that purpose. It’s touchy though as if a lifter drops without the tray in place to catch it, the oil pan comes off anyhow. But it is doable.

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Here‘s a link to a past thread talking about installing lifters without pulling the engine. A picture of one of the various lifter installation tools that was available back in the Y's heyday is also within that thread.

http://forums.y-blocksforever.com/Topic29290.aspx

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

AussieBill, the timing chain is still new. So unless it is really ugly when I take the cover off, I am not going to change it.

Thanks Ted. I also was talking to an old Y Block guy locally, He has it could be done with two magnets and clothespins.

1957 Fairlane