This is a good question. It seems like there would have to be a big difference in the size of the oil holes between the two lifters to be that much difference in oil flow with the lifters in the exact same position or when the engine is running. I don't see how the lifters internal structure difference could cause a big difference in flow??? I'm not saying it couldn't happen but am curious as to how.:idea2: Bob H.
Hey Mike, I am not sure to be honest. I say that because I have no way of testing with the engine running. All I can say is that we had LOUSY oil pressure with these lifters and we now have much better oil pressure. I had wondered if it would be the same when the rocker arms were on the engine and there was pressure on the lifter. So we tightened the rocker arms down and used the drill to pump the oil. It didn't take long to have oil running over the edge of the cylinder head. The holes in the lifters are the same size. Its the internal design that seems to be different. I will also say that we tested several of these lifters. Some seemed to bleed off more oil than others. But none of them were as good as the comp cams lifter. I dont know if this is a big issue if you have a street car but if you have a car that will see 6000 plus rpm then I would say it might be a problem. Take Care and hope to see you at Norwalk!
Bob H. If you look at the interal design of the lifter then you will see the difference. It makes total sense. The bad lifter has this little flimsy oil restrictor that is maybe .040 thick whereas the Comp Cams lifter has a .125 thick oil restrictor. It is also much larger in diameter which makes it much harder to get oil around it and up through the pushrod. Later
Steven, Scott and I live about 30 minutes from Summit racing so the liftes were purchased from Summit Racing. Later
All of the TA lifters are fine. Our hydraulics are the same spec as original including constuction, valving and oil delivery. Our solids are as close as possible to the hydraulics in cup position and oil delivery, i.e. no excess. Anyone who has current TA lifters will have no worries.
Dave, how about a run-down of the past? Did you have any of these bum solids? Can you track when you had them (so I don't have to pull them out and look)?
Uh, Dave, you there? I think you are being a bit misleading by overlooking the period when you had the bum lifters, when the problem was disovered, and when the "good" lifters were again sourced. To those who don't know, this wasn't an exclusive TA problem, everyone in the engine building business had a time when they unknowingly got junk hydraulics. Just ask your local machine shop. As for the solids, I'd sure like to have an idea if the lifters I bought from TA in 2002 are to be suspect or not. I have the symptoms, but don't look forward to pulling my intake just for curiosity's sake... Jim B, or anyone else in-the-know, please PM me if you have an idea and want to avoid any potential political BS..
Adam, I didn't want this to become a vendor bashing issue. I am sure any vendor who as ever sold a solid lifter would say the product they sold is good. And I would not dispute what they have to say. For other engines these lifters would be no problem. Many people are probably running these lifters and not having any problems. Just like some people choose to not run an engine girdle and have no problems. What is your comfort level? I wanted to post these findings to everyone out there to inform them that its possible to make their engine BETTER. If you choose to look into your engine and make it better then it is up to you. For T/A to respond to this issue is a NO WIN situation. I say.... if your not happy or your concerned then pull it appart. Later
Anyone who has current TA lifters will have no worries. I have a set of TA 1405 hydraulic lifters. Are they the current type? I don't know, I'm new to Buick's. Thanks
Thanks John, me either. Just would like to know if and when there was a change. Vendors learn and change things just like the rest of us. What's another $100 into the money-pit I guess. ou:
I have the lifters you show here on the right. I purchased them as speed pro 969. they were 40.00 a set a year or 2 ago. I examined them just a minute ago. The lifters I personally tossed were the ones you show on the left from a 350 motor with brand x cam, from 18 years ago. this engine failed everywhere. My question to you all is a 350 and 455 lifer the same . I will probably sell off my stock of new 350 parts puchased 2 years ago to pursue a BBB build up. good luck all with lifter purchasing. It truly is hit or miss on any purchase since so few manufacturers and many suppliers/parts stores.
I'm still waiting to hear from someone if the TA 1405 part number is for the new type lifters or has this number always been used; ie old and new type? o No:
Monkeyy337, As I said in my last response. It is not up to T/A or anyone to say which lifter you have. If your concerned then pull it apart and take a look for yourself. Plus... I never said there was an issue with the hydraulic lifters. I could not tell you if the hydraulics have the same issues as the solids. Thanks
As far as our hyd lifters go, they are made by Delphi. You can tell by the line a 1/4" up from the face. Best hyd lifter we have ever sold. As far as our solid lifter goes they have the same internals as the Comp lifter that John pictured, I would guess same manufacture. The solid lifters that we had big trouble with were for Chevy engines. The main problem is the location of the oil band on the side of the lifter. A Chevy lifter is more to the center which leaves it exposed to the oil gallery in the Buick at all times. Our TA 1410 lifter as well as the Comp have the same internal oil control plus both have a high oil band, which at full lift the oil band is above the oil gallery and shuts off oil flow for a bit of time which controls oil to the cylinder heads. In the past it was not that we got bad solid lifters, it was that we could not purchase the current 1410. We had to use Chevy lifters. We were successful in get our current lifters reproduced.
Mike, thanks for the reply. I am glad the industry's lifter headaches appear to be over. Hopefully this will fix my problem, when I finally get to fixing it.
for solids use comps oldsmobile lifters,the oil band is in the correct location unlike the chevies.went through this on my last build.
So, is this a good lifter or a bad one? The body (oil band) doesn't look exactly like either in the picture that John posted. However, the guts are the same as the good lifter. I have the oil pressure symptoms described, but hate to replace the things for no reason. I wonder if my drilling the main oil galley bigger could have affected this? Can someone say I do or don't have the bum lifters? I'm considering silver-soldering up the holes in the pushrod cups and drilling them smaller. Any thoughts on how small the holes can be?
