I am having problems setting hydraulic roller lifters in an FE build.
In a previous FE build, I used a set of Crane hydraulic roller lifters. I don't know if they were actually built by Crane or if they were private labeled for them by someone else. When I would adjust them, I found it very difficult to determine zero lash since the plunger would very easily move up and down, as if the oil had bled away and only the spring was holding the plunger up.
I am now working on a new build that uses a set of Morel 5328 hydraulic rollers. When I go to set them, I find the plunger really doesn't want to move up and down, it is as if the lifter is full of oil and it will not push past the check valve, even after the engine has sat for over 24hrs. Putting a borescope thru the pushrod openings, I can see the plunger begin to move when being adjusted so I can tell when zero lash is obtained, but as I adjust the preload, it doesn't seem the plunger is moving but instead the valve spring is being loaded.
Is this normal? should the plungers be very stiff or should they easily move? The build is a Shelby aluminum block with TrickFlow aluminum heads. Reading the Morel data, I interpret they are suggesting 3/4-1 turn for preload, yet the system seems awfully noisy. I understand a little bit of 'sewing machine noise' as the system operates, but these seem very noisy. Is this to be expected? Do I just not have enough preload or would this change on a new engine as it begins to break in.
Any ideas or tips? I am using the EOIC adjustment method, doing one cylinder at a time in the firing order sequence.
Thanks to the brain trust. You've helped me out a lot.
Paul