New lifter install & priming 6.1L

[Kruga]

Hey everyone,

I've recently done a cam swap in my '09 challenger SRT and also installed new Johnson lifters. While installing the valve train back onto the heads I'm getting a crap ton of valve lash between some of the rockers and the push rods.
Would this be due to my lifters not being primed? Kinda scratching my head here and looking for any helpful advice.

 

[16GoManGoHC2]

Did their instructions say to soak them in oil overnight? I’ve heard of too many issues with the Johnson lifters and just use the stock Redeye ones, their excellent lifters.

 

[Unholy707]

Redeye lifters are different?

 

[16GoManGoHC2]

Redeye lifters are different?

A bit yes from the Johnson lifters. They all well engineered and after 2018 all Hellcat and RE engines were fitted with them. I’ve never read of any failures or issues with them. The 170 uses them as well including the same RE cam shaft.

 

[Unholy707]

I had no idea they were different than hellcat lifters

 

[Unholy707]

Although I have a 2022 genIII and a lifter wiped the cam. Not in a BGE though, 5.7

 

[16GoManGoHC2]

I’m

Although I have a 2022 genIII and a lifter wiped the cam. Not in a BGE though, 5.7

Problem with the lifters in these engines is how they’re oiled. The oil takes a long path that has many leak points, starts up through the heads through 2 orfices in each head gasket which where increased in diameter in 2018 too, then into the lifter stands in only 2 places per head, pressurizes the hollow rocker shafts, oil enters each rocker arm, 16 of them and travels to the tips where it enters the push rod through its round tip, travels down the pushrod then is supposed to pressurize and oil the lifter through that unsealed ball connection and no direct oiling of the rollers, their only splashed lubed from what leaks. I’ve heard of many collapsed Johnson lifters but not many if ever stock RE lifters. Johnson just had a recall on lifters I think?

 

[Unholy707]

Are the ports bigger in the block too or just the heads?

 

[16GoManGoHC2]

Are the ports bigger in the block too or just the heads?

Just the head gaskets, that’s the advertised RE improvement of 33% more oiling to the valve train assembly, the only change was orfice size was increased in the head gasket. Aftermarket head gaskets like the Cometic MLX gaskets still use the smaller orfice size, you have to drill them out if you want more oil up top. It’s why I think some builders have lifter and oiling issues up top because no one notice's this.