lifters stuck

[tmaxx411]

im reconditioning the head going on my car, and im trying to swap the lifters to 3rd gen, but they wont budge. ive tried my hands, pliers, vice grips, etc. even the machine shop said they've never had lifters fight like this. are there any tricks to getting them out, especially since i have had 2 lifters separate, and now i have the bottom half stuck in, with not too much to grab onto to get it out

i apologize if this is in the wrong section

 

[tmaxx411]

no one? i cant get my head together without pulling these..

 

[NHerron]

Just something to try...

What I can think of is to remove it like you would a pilot bearing in a crankshaft, M/T.
Not exactly the same but same principal, hydraulics.

Undo the plungers from the stuck lifter bodies and remove the check ball and spring. Fill the body with oil and bits of shop towels (to minimize oil spatter) Take the check ball and drop it in the oiling hole to seal the assembly. Line up the holes also. Now smack the lifter and that way the oil is forced out between the body and bore, possibly freeing it.

How come they are seized in? Was the head oil port blocked off and everything seized up?

 

[bryanwheat]

Just something to try...

What I can think of is to remove it like you would a pilot bearing in a crankshaft, M/T.
Not exactly the same but same principal, hydraulics.

Undo the plungers from the stuck lifter bodies and remove the check ball and spring. Fill the body with oil and bits of shop towels (to minimize oil spatter) Take the check ball and drop it in the oiling hole to seal the assembly. Line up the holes also. Now smack the lifter and that way the oil is forced out between the body and bore, possibly freeing it.

How come they are seized in? Was the head oil port blocked off and everything seized up?

The oil supply port to the lifter is right beside the hole, so this method would not work to push the lifter body out. The best way to get them out would be to use a slide hammer with a bushing removal tool. After you get all of them out than you will need to find out why they are so stuck. Sometimes they can be hard to get out, but nothing a good set of vise grips won't get out.

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[NHerron]

Memory is a little hazy and my recorded pictures don't show much. Are you sure the oiling hole is at that location and not the bottom of the bore? I seem to visually remember the hole being at the bottom even though that wouldn't make sense.

Anywho -I would still try, just smack it fast enough.

 

[TSIfreek]

If your having that much problem getting them out then the casting must have shifted alot and its junk anyway. Even if you do get the lifters out they are going to mar the shit out of the bores trying to get them out. Its best to look into a new head at this point.