Modifying solid roller lifter

[c9zx]

I checked oil pressure today (80PSI) and confirmed the lifters are not sending oil to the pushrods (oiling through pushrods). BAM lifters, and others, have suggested using a Dremel tool to create a path between the large and small oil holes. I know I can't do that consistently. I'm going to try to convince my machinist do do the job precisely. How to do it and how much to cut is the question. BAM sent me a link to a guy in Australia cutting them .080" wide and .002 deep using, what I think is, an end mill. DART has a Tech page suggesting using a .080 radius (not sure what that means) and .020" deep. It seems to me that those three methods would yield significantly different oil flow to the pushrods. I need enough top end oiling but do not want to flood the top end.
Any insights, ideas, suggestions, or experiences would very helpful. Thanks, Chuck (S)

[Barry_R]

We have done them by hand with a die grinder (Dremel) and a very small cut off wheel, and have done them on a Bridgeport using a radiused cutter.  Basically going from "cave man" to "precise" with essentially the same results.  You just need a scratch to connect the oil feeds.  You could probably do it will a small hand file and some patience.  The issue is in very tight lifter to lifter bore clearance (.001-.002) combined with oil feed hole location (cam dependent).  It does not take much to correct that as far as oil flow is considered, and it's almost impossible for a careful man to screw it up.  Almost.....

[blykins]

I've got a YouTube video that shows how to do this.  I do it with a Dremel and a cut-off wheel.  Takes about 2 minutes.  As Barry said, you just need a scratch. 

[blykins]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9ryZOXGhaU

Fast forward to about 9:30 mark. 

I’ve had to do this on every set of BAM lifters I’ve used.

[GerryP]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9ryZOXGhaU

Fast forward to about 9:30 mark. 

I’ve had to do this on every set of BAM lifters I’ve used.

Masterful, Brent.  A perfect demonstration of the problem and the solution.

[GGress]

If Bam knows about the problem, why don't they do something about it?

[blykins]

Because their Ford lifters are universal and work with any Ford engine.  As Barry pointed out, camshaft base circle dimensions, lifter bore heights, etc., all play a role.

[GGress]

Ah,
thank you.

[hbstang]

if no oil is coming out of the pushrod seat,then maybe they plugged for an fe,you should get oil to ooze up from the seat with no push rod in it.also,if you have proper lifter to bore clearance i would never notch the od of lifter body.some times it takes enough rpm to get oil up.its very easy to junk a nice set of lifters.

[blykins]

if no oil is coming out of the pushrod seat,then maybe they plugged for an fe,you should get oil to ooze up from the seat with no push rod in it.also,if you have proper lifter to bore clearance i would never notch the od of lifter body.some times it takes enough rpm to get oil up.its very easy to junk a nice set of lifters.

More often than not, it's necessary to groove the lifter body.