New Lifters (Soak in Oil First?)

[cwestra]

Getting ready to finish assembling my 340.  I have a new cam & lifters.  Do I need to soak them in oil before I install them or not?

[Chryco Psycho]

the only lifters I have ever soaked are the Roller lifters where it is important to get oil into the roller before firing the engine up

[cwestra]

the only lifters I have ever soaked are the Roller lifters where it is important to get oil into the roller before firing the engine up

You're a wealth of knowledge, CP.  Thanks, again.

[Ck[FIN]]

Getting ready to finish assembling my 340.  I have a new cam & lifters.  Do I need to soak them in oil before I install them or not?

Remember to use break in cam lube.

[cwestra]

Remember to use break in cam lube.

You bet.  Thanks.

[71chally416]

I always like to soak hydraulic lifters in oil overnight so they injest some oil internally and the valvetrain doesn't clatter for 5 minutes on start up. Done that with every cam I've ever installed without a problem. Some like to just let the oil pressure pump them up and run them dry on startup. That's cool as long as a pushrod doesn't jump off a rocker arm because the lifter is totally collapsed, which will bend a pushrod. 

[UKcuda]

It's probably not necessary but when I change internal components I like to prime the oil system before start up so I know everything is at least half way oiled to where it should be before I fire it.

If you've got a long enough screwdriver with a hex on the top end you can shove it down the distributor hole and engage the pump and turn it with a drill until the pressure comes up on the guage (if you have a guage).  You can get a proper tool for it but I have a screwdriver that works OK.

To be really sure turn the engine 180 degrees and do it again.

As I say, probably not necessary but after I wiped out the mains on my brother's '67 AMC I always do it now just to be sure.

[cwestra]

I did end up soaking the lifters.  All but 3 of them filled.  The 3 that didn't, were not even close to being filled.  Even after pumping submerdged they still felt empty.  Will these pump up okay or do I have a problem?

[Chryco Psycho]

with 70 PSI pushed into them they will pump up

[cwestra]

with 70 PSI pushed into them they will pump up

Ok.  Just making sure.  Seemed a bit odd.

[Aussie Challenger]

  I always soak & prime hydraulic lifters before installing in a motor, however the earlier S.B. MOPARS can jack the valves open with disastrous results due to the oil not going up the push rods to lube the rocker gear.   
  Priming the oil system before starting is a must.   

[Chryco Psycho]

I always lube the shafts with break in lube as I assemble the engine but the only Mopars I know of that lube up the pushrods are the later Magnuns