Oversize lifters

[Ross Wooldridge]

So - one of my 440s has a diamond on the stamping on the pad that indicates oversized lifters. Where does one get new ones?

I am going to do a stock rebuild on it at some point - I have located the NOS original cam for it, and I want to install the proper lifters. I guess the crank bearings will be different too, as it's got the Malteze Cross indicating undersized crankshaft. What advice can people offer in regards to that as well?

Thanks in advance!


My other 440 I am not sure of its lifter size yet - but getting this information settled beforehand is a good plan!

 

[CBODY67]

Have you measured the existing lifter bores to verify the size? Compared it to the diameter specs of available lifters?

I suspect that oversize was used to "save" blocks which were mis-machined in that area?

Just curious,
CBODY67

 

[Ross Wooldridge]

No, I've not measured at this point.

 

[Big_John]

So - one of my 440s has a diamond on the stamping on the pad that indicates oversized lifters. Where does one get new ones?

View attachment 703755View attachment 703754

I am going to do a stock rebuild on it at some point - I have located the NOS original cam for it, and I want to install the proper lifters. I guess the crank bearings will be different too, as it's got the Malteze Cross indicating undersized crankshaft. What advice can people offer in regards to that as well?

Thanks in advance!


My other 440 I am not sure of its lifter size yet - but getting this information settled beforehand is a good plan!

I'd say to measure before you put any money into this.

AFIK, there are no oversize lifters available. IMHO, there's three options. One is finding another block (obviously).

Another is having the lifter bores bushed. I don't know the expense on that, or if there's any shops doing that work anymore. One race engine builder I knew did that all the time, but that was years ago.

The last option I have is to have your original lifters resurfaced. That would also let you use the earlier push rods. I have a local guy that can do that if need be. He did some for a flathead I did when I couldn't find new lifters.

Regarding the crank, I'd have it ground .010/.010 and get the corresponding bearings. I don't know if a .001" undersize bearing is available anymore.

 

[USSMOPAR]

if one the parts book gurus on here could look up the pn for the oversized lifter the pn can be run on the locator to see if any are out there.

 

[Ross Wooldridge]

I already did that - no luck.

 

[Lefty71]

That diamond is indeed indicating that you need to measure them, as they may not all be done that way..... if it's only a couple, that would certainly cut down on the cost of the bushing job.

 

[Cop car wagon]

I have a C body block that had oversized lifters . Only on one cylinder. They ground a flat on valley at the 2 affected.
I did not pay attention, as I was young and had already thrown away the cam and lifters.
Put a purple shaft in, and those 2 lifters made a bit of noise, but never went flat. Got north of 50k on it.
Still have it. Will bush when out and apart next time.

 

[Xcudame]

When in doubt have a machine shop measure and bush any over sized holes! A good machine shop won't charge too much to do this.

By the way, any big block Mopar should have every lifter bore bushed to be effective. Just my opinion.

 

[Xcudame]

That's to run a roller camshaft!

 

[Ross Wooldridge]

All of the above information is excellent, and reassuring to me that I'm taking the right steps to ensure that when the job gets done, it's done right. I especially like the knowledge that the stamping re oversize lifters could mean that only one or two bores could be oversize, and that bushing them is an accepted practice.

Thanks to everyone.

I don't want to mess up on this particular engine. It's the one I need done right - I searched for quite a while to find it. My wagon is a VERY early build (special order dealer demo in Canada), and hence I need an early casting code block and assembly date, all of which fall into place with this engine. Its stampings indicate it is one of the earliest 440s out there.

My 440 4-speed Monaco still has its original engine, and its build date is even earlier than the wagon's.

 

[david hill]

I'd say to measure before you put any money into this.

AFIK, there are no oversize lifters available. IMHO, there's three options. One is finding another block (obviously).

Another is having the lifter bores bushed. I don't know the expense on that, or if there's any shops doing that work anymore. One race engine builder I knew did that all the time, but that was years ago.

The last option I have is to have your original lifters resurfaced. That would also let you use the earlier push rods. I have a local guy that can do that if need be. He did some for a flathead I did when I couldn't find new lifters.

Regarding the crank, I'd have it ground .010/.010 and get the corresponding bearings. I don't know if a .001" undersize bearing is available anymore.

Yes you can get .001 undersize bearings in MAHLE-Clevite bearings. I just bought a set this month