1956 solid lifters

[Edward M.]

I have been told that the solid lifters used in 265 engines are not the same as the solid lifters used in 283 and later engines. Apparently the oil hole is in a different location.

Anybody know the story for sure?

[William C.]

Re: 1956 solid lifters

GM part number 5231315 for 55-56 265, 5231880 in 57-up. Don't know the difference.

[Bill M.]

Re: 1956 solid lifters

'55-'56 had oiling to the rocker arms restricted by the metering system at the rear cam journal (flat on journal, two-hole cam bearing).

'57 and later used the lifters to restrict oil flow to the rocker arms.

It hasn't happened to me, but one poster said the early lifters in the later engine will get oil shooting over the fenders!

[Edward M.]

Re: 1956 solid lifters

My real questi0on is what happens if you use later lifters in a 265 engine?

[John N.]

Re: 1956 solid lifters

My real questi0on is what happens if you use later lifters in a 265 engine?

Ed
I have used the FM replacement solid lifters in two 265 motors in the last nine years. The rocker oiling worked fine in both motors.
(1) 56# 1009 #7 Sebring Team Car-Notched camshaft
(2) 56# 2834 SR-1 Tom Parsons notched the block-Sally and I used this
car on the California Mille in 2002
I have no remembered experience with either the GM stock piddle valve or edge orifice lifters in a 265 so I can not reflect on them. I believe I have always used the edge orifice with solid lifter GM camshafts in 283s to 350s. Come to think of it the only hyd camshaft I used was a Lunati cheater (legal) in a NHRA Jr Stocker. Valve springs had to be shimmed or replaced after every 20 runs.
Regards

[Clem Z.]

Re: 1956 solid lifters

My real questi0on is what happens if you use later lifters in a 265 engine?

if you slot the rear cam bearing housing between the holes or drill a hole where the later blocks are drilled it should work like a later model oiling system and the later model lifters should work fine

[Roy B.]

Re: 1956 solid lifters

I've used TRW lifter in a 265 engine and they work great no problem

[Bill M.]

Re: 1956 solid lifters

If you modify the engine to have full oil pressure in the lifter oil galleries, be careful with your distributor. The 265 distributor has a flat on it for an oil return path. If you rotate the distributor so the flat is in the driver's side oil gallery, you'll have an internal oil leak that could compromise the oil pressure to the bearings. (You won't have this problem if the 265 distributor is installed correctly.) The distributors used in engines that had full oil pressure in the oil galleries didn't have the flat.

[Roy B.]

Re: 1956 solid lifters

If you modify the engine to have full oil pressure in the lifter oil galleries, be careful with your distributor. The 265 distributor has a flat on it for an oil return path. If you rotate the distributor so the flat is in the driver's side oil gallery, you'll have an internal oil leak that could compromise the oil pressure to the bearings. (You won't have this problem if the 265 distributor is installed correctly.) The distributors used in engines that had full oil pressure in the oil galleries didn't have the flat.

That could not happen if the Dist uses a vacuum advance

[Edward M.]

Re: 1956 solid lifters

That could not happen if the Dist uses a vacuum advance

Why not? Inquiring minds.....

[Clem Z.]

Re: 1956 solid lifters

Why not? Inquiring minds.....

my guess the vacuum advance housing would be in the way

[Roy B.]

Re: 1956 solid lifters

Why not? Inquiring minds.....

Because of the housing design of the Dist if it uses a vacuum advance it's position would be on the passenger side which in turn locates the flat area. A non-VA you could install the Dist 180

[Edward M.]

Re: 1956 solid lifters

Because of the housing design of the Dist if it uses a vacuum advance it's position would be on the passenger side which in turn locates the flat area. A non-VA you could install the Dist 180

That is not the issue. If you orient the distributor even slightly (say 15 to 20 degrees) from where it should be, you don't get oil to the passenger side head.

I learned this the hard way, using both an 879 and an 847 (vacuum advance) distributor. You don't get to pick which distributor opening is the number one cylinder.

I had the distributors oriented so that the tag was facing toward the number 1 cylinder. Bad idea. The tag needed to be facing directly forward. Found that out AFTER I pulled the engine to double check the rear cam bearing (which was fine).

[Roy B.]

Re: 1956 solid lifters

If in my 55 Corvette I located the Dist tag facing forward the vacuum advance would be pointing at the right fender not at a 45% which would be wrong. I've never seen that done using a VA Dist. Is your Dist using a VA and pointing at the fender?

[Edward M.]

Re: 1956 solid lifters

If in my 55 Corvette I located the Dist tag facing forward the vacuum advance would be pointing at the right fender not at a 45% which would be wrong. I've never seen that done using a VA Dist. Is your Dist using a VA and pointing at the fender?

Not quite that extreme. The tag was facing toward the number 1 cylinder, so the vacuum advance canister was sort of facing the number 2 or number 4 cylinder. Turning it so that the vacuum canister was facing the number 6 or number 8 cylinders solved the issue.

I am actually using an 879 distributor in this engine, whcih does not have a vacuum advance. I was playing around with the 847 to see if it made any difference in performance (it did not) so I did not leave it in there long.