2.8 lifters in a 2.9?

[Wrxpulse]

Just wondering if anyone has checked if a 2.8 solid lifter will work in a 2.9. I'm getting valvetrain noise like crazy on the freeway and it seems like a solid lifter would end collapsed lifters forever.

Thanks
-Jack

 

[RyanL]

Count me in for a set too if they'll fit. I'm sure that Ford knew that they had crap lifters with the 2.9. Why else would they put adjustable valve lash on that motor?

 

[Psychopete]

Not a good idea to mix and match.

http://www.ehow.com/about_5592066_can-solid-lifters-hydraulic-cams_.html

 

[Wrxpulse]

I've read those articles too. Trouble is, they're all aimed at high-po guys wanting more power and more rpm, and using big modern cams and high pressure springs to get it.

I just want my truck to run right, and if they'll fit I'm willing to risk it. I suspect the 2.9's cam profle is so outdated it won't matter anyways.

So the question stands: will they fit?

If nobody knows by Friday I'll try and order one so I can measure it.

-Jack

 

[Psychopete]

For 10 bucks for both lifters to measure, that would be the best bet. If I remember to, I will read through my Ford 60 degree book by Sven Pruett to see if he mentions anything on the subject.

Az lists the sizes:

2.9L 1.830 in. by .8740 in.
2.8L 1.830 in. by .8736 in.

Just a generalization, but I would take that with a gain of salt.

Will be interesting to see what you come up with, really going against the gain with switching to solid lifters and also putting new lifters on an old camshaft. Wasn't sure if you ever had a 2.9L apart, but lifters aren't coming out until the heads are off - just a heads up on that. Good luck.

 

[dangerranger83]

Just wondering how you would adjust the lifters for a system that is made to do it itself if you somehow manage to put them in your 2.9? The 2.9 rocker arms dont have the adjusting screws on them that it will need to adjust everything properly either.

 

[rusty70f100]

All the 2.9L rocker arms I've seen have had the adjuster screw on the back.

Here's a picture of a 4.0L engine I built a while back using 2.9L rockers and pushrods. The 2.9L rockers are adjustable, so I was able to set the hydraulic lifter preload while using my aftermarket camshaft:

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee229/acstech/HPIM0375.jpg

I know on some motors meant for hydraulic lifters if you put in the solid lifters with a thin spot in the middle (see pics below), you'll have a massive loss of oil pressure. I don't know if this would happen with a 2.9 or not.

You want your lifters to look like this:
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/CRN-99257-12/Application/?prefilter=1

Not like this:
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/CCA-835-12/

What you might do is disassemble your hydraulic lifters, remove the check ball, reassemble, and then set lash as though they were solid lifters. That way they never pump up, and effectively work as solid lifters. I don't know if there's enough adjustment on the 2.9L rocker arms to do that though.

 

[RyanL]

For 10 bucks for both lifters to measure, that would be the best bet. If I remember to, I will read through my Ford 60 degree book by Sven Pruett to see if he mentions anything on the subject.

Az lists the sizes:

2.9L 1.830 in. by .8740 in.
2.8L 1.830 in. by .8736 in.

Just a generalization, but I would take that with a gain of salt.

Will be interesting to see what you come up with, really going against the gain with switching to solid lifters and also putting new lifters on an old camshaft. Wasn't sure if you ever had a 2.9L apart, but lifters aren't coming out until the heads are off - just a heads up on that. Good luck.

That sucks! I was hoping that you could get them out with a magnet or something. Looks like I'm not replacing mine for a while.
I don't feel so ignorant about asking this question because I'm sure 90% of the rest of you don't know either, but wouldn't you get a little more lift out of hydraulic lifters (after they've pumped up)? I just wonder how the 2.9 would actually run with them.

 

[rusty70f100]

We're talking about a few thousandths of an inch for the valve lash setting. This is only so that the valves aren't held open when the metal in the valvetrain expands from being heated up. Assuming it's set correctly, when warmed up, the lash approaches zero.

It probably would run exactly the same, assuming it's set up correctly. How many 2.9's run just fine with lifter tick? How much lift are they missing out on? It would probably run better than it does with the lifter tick.