Lifter removal

[big black bird]

Good evening everyone. I drive a 1979 Firebird with a 301 mated to a th350 trannie. I bought a new cam and lifter set and im in the process of putting it in. But i have ran into a problem. Just as i had thought, it looks like some of the lifters might have seized up (but i hope not). Also, the rest of the lifters are a pain in the ass and wont budge more than a 1/4 inch . Any ideas on how to get them out? Should i just pull the cam and punch them out into the oil pan? Thanks in advance

Matt

[big black bird]

does anyone have any hints, tips or tricks about getting lifters out????

[petereggy]

if your not gonna keep them just kick the shit out of them to get them out just dont damage your block

[big black bird]

i dont want them to fall into my oilpan tho. Then it just becomes difficult. Should they be this hard to get out???

[petereggy]

no

but the only other lifters i have removed were a smallblock chevy which was out of the car and on a stand and they all slid out nicly when it was tilted upside down

[big black bird]

The only other thing that i can think of is to slowly slid the camshaft out and push the lifters out one by one, catching them so they dont go into the oil pan...

[petereggy]

yah you could do that

[IthePeople]

rotate the cam... the lifters shouldnt have the push rods on them...
when the cam rotates the lifter should push up, grab a pair of vice grips and clamp down on the fucker and yank!
even if these came out easly with no damage i would strongly recomend not using them with a new cam, cam and lifters come in a set for a reason, there mated to eachother,
are these the stock lifters or aftermarket hydraulic ones your trying to get out?

[big black bird]

They are stock lifters and cam. Probably the original one from 1979. An old lady owned the car until i bought it. When i rotate the cam, not all the lifters come up. And yes i did rotate it a couple of times. Will using visegrips crush the lifter? Ive just tried pliers, not vicegrips. Ill give it a shot tomorrow morning,

[IthePeople]

nah vise grips wont crush them, there very strong, they arnt seized either, if they were seized the cam would probally snap and your engine would blow, just turn the crank so there is no pressure on the lifter then tap on the lifter with a hammer until it touches the cam and work it loose like that then try to yank it out with the vise grips
good luck

[big black bird]

Thanks bud, ill let you know how it turns out

[IthePeople]

the reason why they might be so tight is because there could be a bur thats pinching the lifter to the block when you get the lifter out rub your finger along the hole and feel for burs, if u feel one for a metal shaving perhaps just take a file and on an angle file it off, then clean it make sure no file shaving are left and put the new cam in

[big black bird]

right on. will do. thanks for the info

[IthePeople]

hey did the lifters come out?

[big black bird]

Good news. The lifters and camshaft are finally out. Im just putting the new one in now. Is there anything i should do before i put the new camshaft and lifters in?