stock lifters

Lyle

Lyle

Senior Member
I was thinking about my Flathead fords the other night. 53 mercury,52Ford,49 Ford. The 49 is being rebuilt the others run. They have stock lifters. Question is to promote long life having less weight for the cam to have to push upon.Would it be better to run the stock hollow lifter?. and .Would it be easier on the pocket Book? Last Question is .Where can I find New stock lifters? I will not say what the Flathead engines are in.( I think I am going to install A 29 4 cylinder in a 52 ford coupe) ford in a ford:D thanks Lyle some where in Texas.
 
Yes, the stock hollow lifters are best....Just like from the factory.
I have seen them for $144 a set.
Email me and I will see if I can find the info.
 
If using the 49-53 straight stem valves can only the 49-53 hollow lifters be used or can say the ones from a 59AB be used? Seems too me the top surface where valve stem touches is different or hardenened different? I do know different styles were used over the 32-53 years and later ones did not need or have the surface area the earlier ones needed for mushroom ends. Remember reading in one of the flathead books one of the styles was prone to wear because it was not compatible with the smaller stem in its soft areas. Are later ones under 8BA # or EAB?
 
V/8 Lifter Part numbers from the 52 Ford parts catalog are,

49-51 8BA 6500A 2 oil holes

52-53 EAB 6500A 3 oil holes

All other valve parts are the same 51-53, so it must be just the extra oil hole
 
The 52-3 are longer, which work well with a medium lift cam. The SBC valve is longer than the ford valve, this and the longer lifter can be used with a hi lift cam. This requires a shop familiar with this kind of valve adjustment and does require some special equipment. The hourly rate at most shops is quite hi these days and this many not be cost effective. The adjustable lifter works well in a street engine where hi spring pressures is unnecessary.
 
Ol Ron.. I forgot that the 52-53 Ford has a higher lift cam. is that the reason for the longer Eab lifter?
 
Thank you fellows for all the imformation.I did not know that the 52-53 lifters were longer than the other year models. I was thinking that there was a improvment on the later model cam grinds. A old man (O me I forget Im almost 60 myself)told me that the stock 53 cam is really a good one that if I was not going to race. but needed more horse power put a blower on it. He had one that was electric and came off a Kiser. OK please explane the chevy valve and how to set it up. I think I can figure it out I have A lathe , milling machine and other equipment that most folks dont have.Thanks lyle
 
Also I do things like my own casting (my brother is a master pattern maker)I have my own smelter and casting equipment. I cut a VW in half and run 2 cylenders, half a cam with a under The engine model A ford carb. Put it on a airplane. so I think I can figure out how to do the valves and lifters. with good instructions from you ford flathead experts. Sorry about the none ford stuff. I just dont wont you folkes to think I fell off the corn wagon. Thanks LYLE
 
The reason the late lifters are longer is because Ford went with valve rotators after eliminating the harden seats. The 1.5 and 1.6 SBC valves install the same as the ford valves and work well with a small base circle cam and adj lifters. However they DON"T work well on a stock cam, with out being shortened some. I don't have the numbers handy and haven done any of this for quite awhile. Walt DuPont is the man to answer these questions
 
The early stock lifters are 1.730 long, the longer ones I think 52-53 are 1.750 long. I don't know if they were just in the Merc or in the Ford also. The Chevy valves .075 longer, good if the heel of the cam has been ground down. You'll have to use spring spacers with the Chevy valves to get the installed pressure right. Sometimes one .060 spacer, sometims 2 spacers. They make .015, .030, and .060 spacers. Walt
 
I set all my street cams at 50-55 lbs reguardless of what cam i have in the engine, except the 400jr (60-65) this has worked well for the past 20 years.
 
Jdl, walt,Ron,Pete thank you for the imformation. Both of the flatheads are the mercury blocks. 52- and 53. The cams are in good shape. I picked up a set of used lifters. They will probely need to be reground. some of them look good the cam end dont show much use.I have about three sets of lifters. Some are 52 ford. I will mike them all for length and sort them out and check the the radius. Fore some reason I don,t wont to use adjustable lifters.I have time and money. My dad said It is like the old lady that kissed the cow it is just a matter of taste.I am not a stickler for pure stock.
 
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