I'm wondering if I have collapsed lifter problems caused by too much spring pressure. The open pressure for the 977 springs is 420 lbs. Is this too much pressure for a hydraulic lifter?

 

That may be pushing things a little. A hydraulic lifter will function with roughly 160 lbs (closed) and ~400 lbs over the nose but to take any more than that requires lifter modification. Basically running it like a solid with very little plunger travel.

Running your 230/236 XE, I'll say back off on the spring.... 150 and ~380 (fresh spring rate) would likely be more than adequate.

How did the lifters fail?

-Mindgame

 

Well when I installed the heads/cam/springs I used some new Crane lifters. Then one day I was lashing the rockers and I noticed that some lifters compressed real easy. If I can compress a lifter by hand then it must be collapsed, right?

So later I replaced them with some CompCams "High Energy" lifters which CC recommended for my cam. But the same thing has happened to a few of those lifters now too.


I'm building a new motor now, and I was considering re-using those springs because they're nice, but I just realized how strong they are and thought maybe they're wrecking my lifters.

 

As long as you are getting new lifters, get comp-r lifters. They will handle more pressure.

 

They do? I thought they just had less travel. Plus aren't people having problems with them coming apart? I think I'm going to have to use lighter springs.