I just got my 383 short block back from the shop last week. I don't have the heads yet but I have everything else. I bought the comp cams OEM roller lifters and thought I would try to fit them in the block. Im not sure if they are suppose to fit that snug!? I can barely get one in there! It goes in half way and then I have to put alot of pressure on it to get it all the way in. Then I can't get it out of there. I have to bang it out from underneath. Is this normal???

 

I hope you did not put it in dry. They should be fairly snug, even oiled up.

 

they should slide right in there with oil on them you shouldnt have to force them in there.

 

They have been soaking in oil for a few days but were still snug as hell.

 

Should NOT be tight enough to stick. Try one of you old lifters. If it fits fine, maybe the new set is off spec on diameter. If the old ones don't fit either, I'd look for block damage at the lifter bores. Surface rust, or maybe they cleaned the block by peening and it roughened the lifter bores? If so, the bores can be honed.

 

Im stumped! I went to the junk yard today and pocketed a few lifters off a LT1 caprice. They fit right in! My CompCam lifters are still sitting in oil and still don't fit right. I just spent some bucks on these things and I can't wait anymore. This is the last thing scaring the hell out of me. I can't take my stock ones out yet cause im still driving the car. I don't know what to do.

 

Sounds like the COMP lifters are too big/out of spec. Call comp and tell them what you told us. They should make it right!

 

Return the Comp lifters and get some Morels. Check out the horror thread at the top of the forum.

 

His are Comp OEM, not Comp R.

 

Is every lifter tight? Maybe there are some edges on the lifter castings. Or your block has some flash rust in the bores. Perhaps a little carefull buffing with some emery cloth would take care of it. The old lifters are going to fit, because they are worn in.

 

I use Comp roller lifters in my 97 - 383. They fit the bore and had clearance. I can pull them up by hand. I did not have to hammer/ tap them in. How much clearance is there??? Check the block lift-bores to specification numbers and the Comp lifers and call them.

 

I will be calling Comp because all of them hardly fit. There is no clearance. No matter which hole or lifter I use they all fit the same.

 

Comp is telling me that the PN for my lifters is correct for my application and that they do not understand why I am having clearance issues. They told me the same things you guys told me about surface rust or lack of lube but im sure thats not the problem. I did notice one thing. If I slide them in and out for a while they tend to fit a little easier but I am still having problems getting them past the oil holes in the block. I stuck my finger in there and noticed sharp edges around the oil holes. I still don't see how that could be the problem. These lifters look identical to the ones I got from the Caprice at the junk yard so I might just end up using those.

 

What lifters? The 850-16's?

My 850-16 Comp lifters fit like stockers, should not be a tough/interference fit.

 

Yes the 850-16's