Adjustable lifter recommendations

fortyonerag

fortyonerag

Well-known member
All,

I'm getting bits and pieces together for a fresh replacement street engine for the '41. Johnson adjustable lifters seem hard to find.

Lots of 'Johnson Style' out there, but I want to avoid 'Happy Lucky Rooster' or 'Dancing Peacock' brands if you get my meaning.

What is recommended in place of Johnsons'?

Many thanks
 
I'm in the same boat. I ordered a set of Johnson lifters for my 8CM from H&H 6 months ago . Still on back order. I hope we can find a decent alternative. I'm all ears. Tim
 
I worked up a lifter test in my thread called 'Light in the Lifters' a couple years back. I have since purchased an inch/pound torque wrench in place of the 5lb flour sack. Along with bolt tension, carefully test their hardness with a file.
 
A great company, and made here at home. Looks like a good source, but we have to harden them at home? Hope we can get pictures and more info on these Isky lifters. I need to purchase a set of lifters myself.
 
Real used Johnsons are still plentiful if you beat bushes a bit.

Most cam places can reface if needed. Don't use Communist-made lifters. Only asking for problems.
 
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I have the Isky adjustables referenced in post #4 on a genuine Iskendarian MAX-1 in my 258" "Hot Rod" engine. They came as a "kit". They seem fine and have held their adjustment for about 5 years now. Be advised that these are "solid-body" lifters, not hollow like the early Johnson's. This makes them quite a bit heavier than the hollow version, but that doesn't seem to be a problem. I slipped on the gas once and the engine over-speeded. I let off immediately, but when I checked the "tell-tale" on the tach, it read 5500 RPM. No harm was done, and I didn't notice anything weird about the RPM run up.

If I were using a stock cam (or even a racing cam with a stock base circle), I'd use stock lifters adjusted the old-fashioned way. When I built an engine using an 8CM (Mercury) cam, I was able to get a set of NOS lifters from "Southside Obsolete".
 
BOL-lifters vary in diameter.
Ran into this trying to fit lifters to an engine that the bores had probably been cleaned with a small hone. The no name ( imported ) lifters I tried from (2) well known engine suppliers were undersize. Even a set of NOS sealed power lifters I bought were .001 under sized.
Imo the excess slop will accelerate wear. Albeit not a race engine I wanted keep near stock tolerances.
I shopped around for a nos set of Johnson lifters.
There are still shops out there who will reface used lifters, well worth the effort......
 
Tim Ayers said:
Very nice used real deal Johnson can be purchased and refaced for less than off shore junk.
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I came across a set of used original hollow Johnson adjustables some time back, and they looked good. I recently sent them to "Pete" here on the barn and he surfaced them and they came back looking like jewelry.
 
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fortyonerag said:
Otherwise, no real alternatives to Johnsons except second hand Johnsons?
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The best alternative is far better than any adjustable ever designed.
Do it like original with stock steel lifters.
If you have to learn a new process and maybe buy some second hand machinery, it won't be the end of the world. Also, look at all the fun and money you will have doing valve jobs for the neighbors.
 
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