Wish I knew how to do a poll here, but how many have lost a lifter or two during a cam swap?

 

I havent. But it all depends on what kind of rods are you use.

 

You can use both the rods and the pen magnets to add extra insurance.

 

Never lost one. I use wood dowel rods. When you're pushing the dowel rod in, you can feel it engage each lifter. If you don't feel it, you know something is up.

 

I lost a lifter AFTER install LOL! ( high mileage 5.3)

Use wooden dowels like said but soak them in oil first.

 

Three cam swaps under my belt and not one lifter dropped. Wooden dowel rods (5/16ths I believe) are the ****. Make sure you run some sand paper over them just a bit to make them easier to install. I made a dull point on one side to help ease it in. Only one cam swap was with the russian roulette method. That was only because my wooden dowl rods were holding up the lifters in my other engine at that time!

 

Between my own, and all of our members here who have done cam swaps through the years, I haven't heard of one dropped lifter as long as they were supported either with rods/dowels or pen magnets, although I have heard of the magnet coming unglued from the pen and staying stuck to the lifter...

 

That would suck!!!

 

Wrap the tips in electrical tape to prevent that

4 cam swaps using 5/16" steel dowels, never lost a lifter

 

25+ cam swaps with wooden dowl rods, never dropped a lifter.