Hi guys, am assembling my engine, however when installing my drop in hyd roller lifters, one of them (the link rivet)comes very close to the block. I am able to stuff a .015 thou wire between both surfaces, but I'm kinda nervous things may flex, etc while running.....is that enough clearance, anybody else run into this issue, thanks for any info!

Which metal is the block, aluminmum or iron? If iron you might want to grind a tiny bit, .010 to .020 off either the bottom of the link bar or the block. If aluminum take more for added safety, the aluminum will get a lot taller proporsionally than the steel lifters will when hot

If its a big block, the links go up towards the valley, not against the block.

small block....I already had a rep at howards cam tell me I have them in backwards too.......I mentioned i really didn't think i had them in backwards, but he refused to have any of it....in any case i guess i'm looking for a dimension or that someone can tell me with confidence that .015" clearance is plenty. I can only assume others have run into this issue also?
Thanks for any info!

It probably wouldn't hurt to grind a bit in that area with a ball-shaped burr !!

agreed,except i REALLY don't feel like tearing the motor down to clean out the chips......

OR, you could be tearing it down to rebuild it after it goes KABOOM...........

What would it really hurt to put the lifters in facing the other way?

if it is a 59* block the push rod's could interfere with the link or the tab the link is riveted to.

Well, until it is installed and checked, we may never know. Hughes even told him he had them in backwards. If there is no binding or contact, I can't see the harm. Lifters aren't directional, as far as I know, so whichever way they fit best, I say let them ride.

so will 15 thou clearance make it go kaboom?

My big block Cranes are directional - the rollers are shrouded on on side only.

If they hit the block what will happen ... they'll likely scrape and cause small metal particles to get into places they don't belong. On the other hand, maybe .015 clearance is ok - its your call. Me ... I'd probably stuff rags in the valley, grind the clearance and do a really good careful cleanup afterwards.

cycle it by hand. at the tight spot put a feeler gage and see what it says. more the .015, your a golden commando.

Be very careful grinding on them I have seen several r3's go through before getting the clearance. I will admit they have a larger water jacket for the larger bores. It just scares me now.

It has been a long time since I put a roller lifter in a SB LA Mopar, what I remember is the tie bar links and retaining rivets go towards the cam, not inwards towards the block
Iron block with steel lifters with .015 clearances at room temps(55F to 80 F) your good to run

the tie bar links and retaining rivets go towards the cam, not inwards towards the block

X2

then I seen a lot of pictures and videos with people putting them in backwards.....

to clarify, these are morel retrofit hyd rollers (top of lifters are NOT flat) going into a production iron 360 LA block (no R or aftermarket block).....regardless, the question still is, is .015 enough clearance..i know things will go kaboom if it ends up interfering in a dynamic condition - hence the question....sounds like the consensus is it might be ok, I think I will check clearance without pushrods (no valvespring pressure) and compare with clearance with valvespring pressure, if there isn't any measurable deflection in a static condition, I guess I will go with it, unless somebody has firsthand knowledge that I need X amount of clearance.....thanks for the insight so far!

The link faces the block on a small block. Sorry I can't help you on how much clearance is required, but I had to clearance the block with my Comp lifters.

I hate to hijack this thread but I just put my big block back together after 100+ passes and I had the lifter shrouds facing the block not the valley. I just put it back together the same way. Do I need to pull it apart to change them? There is plenty of clearance the way they are.