Without taking my engine to bits... How can I tell if I have hydro or solid lifters? Checked my mcode, nothing there either way. Its a '79 made in may with a 2.0 CJ 70bhp
i'm not sure you can as some peeps retro fit back to solid ones, mines hydraulic, easiest way i know is if you ain't started it for ages it knocks like a gitbag until they fill back up! someone will know more than me.
If you have a read through Tom Wilsons book, it'll give you part numbers to check for hydraulic lifters or things like sodium filled valve stems etc etc
that's fine if the injun hasn't been messed with internally mark, i think the o/p wants to know if you can tell if they are hydraulic or solid without looking inside.....
Fair point it is detailed in he book but it doesnt give obvious clues away as to what to look for! One possibility, are the rocker arms different (as hydro lifters don't need adjustment)?
not sure........ Paul Weeding may know...... ratwell linky http://www.ratwell.com/technical/HydraulicLifters.html
That's the reason I am asking, don't mind adjusting them, just prefer no to! Also, the gap is different for hydro and solids, so don't want to get it wrong
Hydro lifters have adjustment, they need to be set correctly. I ve just had same problem, found they were normal rockers after 25000 miles! If the centre of the lifter is dished and pushrods are magnetic on the body, chances are they ll be hydraulic. Check out ratwelllink site got an article that goes into them in detail
rickyrooo1 that is much more informative than the book! I do know ours are mechanical lifters over hydraulic - in fairness to them, the have remained in spec for 3 years now
Top tip for you... Hydro engines have steel push rods Solid lifter engines have aluminum push rods Using the tip of a flat bladed screw driver (magnetic tip) touch it on a push rod and see if it sticks... Obviously you need the rocker cover off to do this
Im thinking that there isnt a gap with hydraulic lifters and there is with non hydraulic! so if you take off the covers and theres a gap (ie they rattle when you rattle em!) didnt know about the ally/steel pushrod thing!
All well and good, but every other hydraulic lifter engine I see has been gapped by someone who knew no better... It's a great "fix" to set them properly.
spose yer right, you can get away with gapping them a few times i suppose before it all turns into an airfix kit!
Still goes with them gapped, but one hell of a lot quieter set properly! On the flip side I've had a couple of customers in for a second opinion after being told their gutless engines need replacing and found the gaps that should be there all closed up. Gapped and off they zoom. Happy days.
I did some work for a guy a few years back who'd been told by a vw "specialist" that he needed a new engine... and they happened to have one that he could have for a grand plus fitting... I went and had a look for a second opinion, and said garage has wound off all the tappets and left them with a 5mm gap fook knows how it even ran Purred like a kitten after I gave it a service Would run a lot better too as the valves will be opening fully!!
