Removing Lifters

Note: This document uses the term "lifter" as synonymous with "tappet".

Remove, label, and store each lifter. To remove a lifter, reach down the lifter barrel with a pick tool, a piece of stiff wire, or needle-nose pliers. There is a thin wire in the lifter top you can grab. Pull the lifter up and out.

Note: If you have roller lifters, you must first remove the 'anti-rotation bars' (the retainers in the center of each lifter block with the arrow on it). These retainers bars may have been installed using red/perminent thread-lock, in which case you will likely need to heat the screws a little to get them out without damage. Remove, bag, label, and store these parts. See photo of the Speedstar Roller Cam Kit (minus the anti-rotation bars) and photo of installed anti-rotation bars below.

If you will be re-using your lifters, be sure to label them so you can guarantee they will be put back in the same barrels they came out of. Cover and store the lifters, standing on end, if possible.

If you have no need to remove the lifter blocks--such as powdercoating, crankcase machining, or nearby welding--you may skip this section.

Label a medium sized baggie, "Lifter Block Parts." Then, remove and bag the two bolts that secure each lifter block. If the lifter block caps come free, you can bag them, too. Note: Only flat tappet, 1999-2003 models have the caps. See photo below.

Then, remove both lifter blocks by pulling up and twisting them. They are held in via two, large O-rings. Unless necessary for your particular job, leave the O-rings on the lifter blocks. In any case, wrap each block in paper for protection, and store all items in the baggie.

Next, examine the tops of the lifter block bases on the engine. There should be a tiny O-ring resting in a shallow recess of each block base. Use tweezers or a pick tool to carefully remove the O-rings and place them into the baggie.

Stuff a rag or rubber glove into each lifter block base to prevent small parts from disappearing into the crankcase.

Remove the two bolts of the decompression selenoid cover, and place all three--bolts and cover--in a marked baggie.

Remove the two bolts and the two, brown, dielectric washers of the decompression selenoid, and place all four in the same marked baggie. Store the baggie.

Let the decompression selenoid just hang down, for now.