I'll be doing a cam swap this weekend along with replacing my stock lifters with TSP LS7 lifters (2002 Tahoe 5.3... I have a lifter tick on start-up that is only getting worse)

Now I know to soak the new lifters in oil overnight. I've also read to depress the plungers to fill the lifter with oil before installing.

My question is:
If I fill the lifter with oil before I install it... will that give me a false reading when I go to check my pushrod length?? Shouldn't the lifter have no oil in it when I check my pushrod length?

Sorry if this is a stupid question, just want to make sure I get it right!

 

What's the lift on the new cam? I've just pre soaked the lifters before install. Then using a push rod checker for push rod length. Are you also installing new springs? I wouldn't install a new cam an lifters without new springs as well.

 

Comp 212/218 low lift
GM LS9 Blue springs

Sounds like i'll clean the lifters with mineral spirits then soak them tonight before I install tomorrow

 

Another good thing to do is disconnect the coil packs or fuel pump relay and let the starter turn the motor over a bunch before firing to circulate oil everywhere.

 

Skip the mineral spirits, soak the lifters until the air bubbles stop coming out of them, load them in the trays, reinstall them in the bores, reinstall the heads.... Make sure you clean any oil off the deck surface of the block and any coolant and oil out of the head bolt holes in the block.... The oil in the liftrrs will not affect pushrod length, as a matter of fact you want some oil in them anyway, as they keep pressire on the pushrod through oil pressure... Completely dry lifters will skew the pr measurement more so than have a little in the lifter!!!