The Ford Barn

kurt v · 05-06-2023, 01:33 PM

Starting to do the valves and the lifters adj screw is so tight i just broke a orig johnson tappet holder on the first one,anyone having had the same problem ? Did a motor years ago with with real johnson lifters and these same holders and there was no problem at all. Now that the holder is broken i cannot try any other of the tappets, not going to take the motor apart to drill holes in it.

thanks kurt
not to happy

kurt v · 05-06-2023, 01:39 PM

Plus i just did a valve job on my 40 coupe and the lifters adjusted fine , that motor was built in the 80's.

jimTN · 05-06-2023, 04:32 PM

I always drill the tapped holes prior to building the engine, then all you have to do is stick a nail in the hole to lock the lifter. Never could get the original Johnson holders to work without slipping out.

kurt v · 05-06-2023, 05:04 PM

i put 2 wrapped in leather in a vice and barley could move them would be a real mess with a jammed nail in the block.

Bored&Stroked · 05-06-2023, 09:19 PM

I prefer them to be tight as possible - it keeps the lifters from losing their adjustment. I drill the lifter bores with a 3/16 hole. I put a metal punch into the hole to hold the lifter. I also tend to adjust them to the approximate length by holding them in a vice before installation and setting the length to what it should be (at least close) - then I fine-tune in the engine.

kurt v · 05-07-2023, 09:29 AM

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Ok, it takes a LOT of force to turn down the adjuster in the vice B&D says that's a good thing I agree with him, next question, 1/8" or less up form bottom i can take a chain saw file and not much effort score a grove in the lifter, i think it's to soft file should skate over it and not mark it. I think they should go back .

thanks kurt

Bored&Stroked · 05-07-2023, 08:59 PM

If the bottoms are soft (and I've heard that some of the repops are like that, then they should go back). The bottoms should be heat-treated and hard. If you have a set of used lifters - send them to Pete1, have him resurface them. That would be the best situation.

frames · 05-12-2023, 04:57 PM

You are S O L if you purchased the lifters off the internet from that engine builder in Fresno CA. They are beyond TIGHT!. He says no one else has a problem. B S. He will take them back but he charged $56.00 shipping. You don't get that back. I sent one set back and I had extra Johnson bolts for the other set. Shipping should have been about $15.00 USPS flat rate box. When he first started selling them he said he found them [ hollow Johnsons ] in a warehouse. Ya sure he did.

frames · 05-12-2023, 05:23 PM

I purchased a used but low mileage 274 C I D flathead. Valve lash was all over the place. No holes in the lifters bosses. What am I to do. Made this tool. Smooth end of a drill for the pins. Nice and hard. Turn the engine over to get the valve up. Back down. Check lash. Repeat until you have it right. I don't need this tool for my engines because I have the FASTEST system around for adjusting valves. This tool won't be strong enough for Fresno lifters. Throw them away. What's this stupid URL http///to send a picture??? Please inform.

kurt v · 05-12-2023, 05:52 PM

Ordered a set of new REAL johnsons $495 shipped, what the hell at 73 i'm not taking anything with me.
thanks
kurt

glennpm · 05-13-2023, 11:54 AM

Regarding adjustable lifters, this thread may help. I posted a modified Johnson tool and also made a couple of pin wrenches to do the job

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...nson&showall=1

Glenn

frames · 05-14-2023, 08:26 AM

I posted a picture of my pin wrench on the HAMB because I don't know how this freakn' URL works on here.

glennpm · 05-14-2023, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frames

I posted a picture of my pin wrench on the HAMB because I don't know how this freakn' URL works on here.

Take a look at this post

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showp...&postcount=649

Bored&Stroked · 05-15-2023, 05:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kurt v

Ordered a set of new REAL johnsons $495 shipped, what the hell at 73 i'm not taking anything with me.
thanks
kurt

Another option is to pickup a set of lifters from Isky - believe they are under $300 on eBay and other places. They appear to me to be the same lifter as you're paying $495 for.

https://www.jegs.com/i/Isky-Racing-C...F8502/10002/-1

Here is an eBay add:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/32563896720...7526%7Ciid%3A1

kurt v · 05-15-2023, 10:11 AM

I talked to schnieders and was told that their ford flathead lifters are not china but were not USA made, I would think that ISKY may be the same, didn't want to take that chance.still anything can go bad.

kurt v · 05-15-2023, 10:34 AM

i see now that ISKY is USA made ,didn't know that when i ordered the johnson lifters, maybe next time.

sidevalve8ba · 05-15-2023, 11:36 AM

Are those Isky's adjustable?

05-06-2023, 01:33 PM	#1
kurt v Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: summerton, sc Posts: 353	adj tappets 40 block Starting to do the valves and the lifters adj screw is so tight i just broke a orig johnson tappet holder on the first one,anyone having had the same problem ? Did a motor years ago with with real johnson lifters and these same holders and there was no problem at all. Now that the holder is broken i cannot try any other of the tappets, not going to take the motor apart to drill holes in it. thanks kurt not to happy

05-06-2023, 01:39 PM	#2
kurt v Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: summerton, sc Posts: 353	Re: adj tappets 40 block Plus i just did a valve job on my 40 coupe and the lifters adjusted fine , that motor was built in the 80's.

05-06-2023, 04:32 PM	#3
jimTN Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Powell, TN Posts: 2,509	Re: adj tappets 40 block I always drill the tapped holes prior to building the engine, then all you have to do is stick a nail in the hole to lock the lifter. Never could get the original Johnson holders to work without slipping out.

05-06-2023, 05:04 PM	#4
kurt v Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: summerton, sc Posts: 353	Re: adj tappets 40 block i put 2 wrapped in leather in a vice and barley could move them would be a real mess with a jammed nail in the block.

05-06-2023, 09:19 PM	#5
Bored&Stroked Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 5,078	Re: adj tappets 40 block I prefer them to be tight as possible - it keeps the lifters from losing their adjustment. I drill the lifter bores with a 3/16 hole. I put a metal punch into the hole to hold the lifter. I also tend to adjust them to the approximate length by holding them in a vice before installation and setting the length to what it should be (at least close) - then I fine-tune in the engine.

05-07-2023, 09:29 AM	#6
kurt v Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: summerton, sc Posts: 353	Re: adj tappets 40 block Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Ok, it takes a LOT of force to turn down the adjuster in the vice B&D says that's a good thing I agree with him, next question, 1/8" or less up form bottom i can take a chain saw file and not much effort score a grove in the lifter, i think it's to soft file should skate over it and not mark it. I think they should go back . thanks kurt

05-07-2023, 08:59 PM	#7
Bored&Stroked Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 5,078	Re: adj tappets 40 block If the bottoms are soft (and I've heard that some of the repops are like that, then they should go back). The bottoms should be heat-treated and hard. If you have a set of used lifters - send them to Pete1, have him resurface them. That would be the best situation.

05-12-2023, 04:57 PM	#8
frames Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: concord, nc Posts: 123	Re: adj tappets 40 block You are S O L if you purchased the lifters off the internet from that engine builder in Fresno CA. They are beyond TIGHT!. He says no one else has a problem. B S. He will take them back but he charged $56.00 shipping. You don't get that back. I sent one set back and I had extra Johnson bolts for the other set. Shipping should have been about $15.00 USPS flat rate box. When he first started selling them he said he found them [ hollow Johnsons ] in a warehouse. Ya sure he did.

05-12-2023, 05:23 PM	#9
frames Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: concord, nc Posts: 123	Re: adj tappets 40 block I purchased a used but low mileage 274 C I D flathead. Valve lash was all over the place. No holes in the lifters bosses. What am I to do. Made this tool. Smooth end of a drill for the pins. Nice and hard. Turn the engine over to get the valve up. Back down. Check lash. Repeat until you have it right. I don't need this tool for my engines because I have the FASTEST system around for adjusting valves. This tool won't be strong enough for Fresno lifters. Throw them away. What's this stupid URL http///to send a picture??? Please inform.

05-12-2023, 05:52 PM	#10
kurt v Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: summerton, sc Posts: 353	Re: adj tappets 40 block Ordered a set of new REAL johnsons $495 shipped, what the hell at 73 i'm not taking anything with me. thanks kurt

05-13-2023, 11:54 AM	#11
glennpm Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Wiscasset, Maine Posts: 1,988	Re: adj tappets 40 block Regarding adjustable lifters, this thread may help. I posted a modified Johnson tool and also made a couple of pin wrenches to do the job https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...nson&showall=1 Glenn

05-14-2023, 08:26 AM	#12
frames Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: concord, nc Posts: 123	Re: adj tappets 40 block I posted a picture of my pin wrench on the HAMB because I don't know how this freakn' URL works on here.

05-15-2023, 10:11 AM	#15
kurt v Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: summerton, sc Posts: 353	Re: adj tappets 40 block I talked to schnieders and was told that their ford flathead lifters are not china but were not USA made, I would think that ISKY may be the same, didn't want to take that chance.still anything can go bad.

05-15-2023, 10:34 AM	#16
kurt v Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: summerton, sc Posts: 353	Re: adj tappets 40 block i see now that ISKY is USA made ,didn't know that when i ordered the johnson lifters, maybe next time.

05-15-2023, 11:36 AM	#17
sidevalve8ba Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Harrisonburg, VA Posts: 842	Re: adj tappets 40 block Are those Isky's adjustable?