Roller Lifter Shortage?
 

Has anyone heard of a roller lifter shortage? My builder who is pretty reputable said that they are having problems getting the correct roller lifters for my motor. I'm not sure of part numbers but they are very particular about which parts go into their motors. It's nothing TOO powerful as they are tweaking my 502mag EFI. It just sounds a little fishy to me that they can't find the particular roller lifters they need. Maybe it would help if I had part numbers but unfortunately I don't have them right now. I think they are referring to the lifters similar to what MERC uses in the 500HP EFI and they also mentioned Lunati as a name. Anyone have suggestions or ideas? I just can't believe that they can't find roller lifters SOMEWHERE in the US and have them overnighted!!! HELP?

There are plenty of other options, but your builder sounds too picky to consider them. For that application, what is wrong with the GM rollers that came in it??

Have heard the same things on the Corvette board, that there seems to be a shortage of some aftermarket hydraulic rollers. I think soilds are available, but that of course won't help if your cam is made for hydraulics.

Yes, There is a lifter shortage in general...at least that's what Jegs has told me. I called Summit Racing for my Crane 99377s and they said they had 5 sets in stock! I had mine overnighted.

BTW, see y thread on "540 won't idle" to see about "other" lifters...:mad:

Yes there is a serious shortage of roller lifters, I've heard its starting to ease some now though.

The problem is that there was one manufacturer that was making all of the lifter bodies. Was this DANA? Anyways, this manufacturer stopped making the bodies. This resulted in a shortage of parts. I believe that somebody else has now pickup the body and that the shortage is ending.

I just find it interesting how one manufacturer claimes their lifter is better than the next, when they are all buying the same parts! What suckers we are...:rolleyes:

In many more ways than we know............:mad:

Yes, there was a shortage - some one else picked up the ball where the other co. dropped it and is now manufacturing lifter bodies. The lag time in betwwen the swithover caused the shortage. Crane told me several months lead time. As for your builder being picky, if you go to a cam with over 0.575 lift, I believe, the cam has to have a smaller base circle for clearance issues. Thus the difference needs to be taken up somewhere - they go to a longer body lifter. If you did not go to the longer body lifter, there's a good chance your roller lifter would actually go BELOW the lifter retainer that keeps it from pivoting in its bore and could rotate. That means the roller no longer rides squarely on cam lobe face = instant distruction of cam, roller, etc. MAJOR rebuild time.

Thanks everyone for the post. You mean to tell me that there is only one manufacturer of lifter bodies and that all of the cam manufacturers just put their name on it? Sounds kind of odd to me but I've been "odd" before!! :rolleyes: At any rate, I guess my builder wasn't blowing smoke....but the more important question is, where could I look to find the roller lifters I need? I apologize for not having part numbers but if anyone has a good suggestion please let me know. I'm sure that I can get the part number from my builder if necessary.


Thanks for all of your replies...I still can't believe that there is only one manufacturer of lifter bodies....talk about a monopoly!!

Dave

Gary Grimes in Atlanta told me the say thing about....
 

a month ago. He said their was only one company making them and they closed the doors. He had high concerns on what was going to happen. He said that most of the employees were gone and that a lot of experience would be lost. This makes ya scared on the quality of what will be coming at us. I haven't talked to him since then. At that time he said no one had bought the company. Gary bought a sh*t load of lifters and he said Summit and or Jegs was calling him for lifters.:eek:
I think his stock was getting depleaded quickly. He was saving some for his customers:) .

That's interesting Mike!

I wonder where my 99377s will come from...drop shipped from Gary's perhaps??

I had the same problem back in February while trying to get hyd.rollers for a pair of 540's. Could get all the solid rollers I wanted , but that wouldn't help. Tried Comp Cams , Crane , Crower , Jegs , Summit. All had the same story:mad: This held up my engines for this year , because when boating season is here I'm boatin' not changing engines:D (unless I HAVE to):rolleyes:

The Skinny on Lifters
 

There were 2 companies making the Hydraulic Roller lifters for just about everybody in the business. One company got extremely over extended giving people longer terms to pay. When a company that had owed them somewhere in the mid 6 figures filled bankruptcy. This left only one company to deal with the demand of all the aftermarket, and OEM business. Since the majority of these style of lifters are used in SBC these where the first to be retooled. BBC stuff is waiting until later. This all happend earlier this season. I had ordered a set from Crane in January, got them back in May.

They are around if you find out exactly what your engine builder wants you should be able to find a set some where in this country. Be prepared some people are gouging for them.

Can't blame a guy for being picky about the parts he uses, it's his name and reputation if it doesn't work.

Ran into the same problem this past winter with Crane. I needed to replace 2 pair of roller lifters and NO one had any in stock. Everyone was at least 3 months B/O. I ended up calling Crane themselves and explained I just needed 2 pair soon as I had dyno time scheduled. They assembled them and shipped them to my front door next day! The little sweet talk and flirting with chicky on phone probably did the trick. ;) :D

damn,

wrong time to wipe out a cam.!!! Jegs told me the 99277-16 lifters I ordered were on back order with no eta. I am going to try to find another place in the morning.

I got mine from Teague custom marine in May when Jegs, Summit, and PAW were backordered. They had them in stock Crane hyd. rollers for gen V block. Greg

Did the company make just the rollers? the 99377's and the 99277's Sean and CDF-12 mentioned are not rollers, just hydraulic flat tappets. Are they in short supply too? They cams in my motors did not match so I have been considering going to rollers just to keep the boat running while docking.:rolleyes:

I just ordered a Crane hydraulic roller cam (168741) and lifters from Summit. I got the lifters in three days, and the cam followed two days later.

Cignificant,
That is the same cam I'm looking at but the Crane site has me confused. This is at the bottom of the Cam card
Then the spec page says this.


I take this to mean unless my block originally came with GM hydraulic rollers, I can't use this cam. That doesn't make sense.

Doesn't Crane make hydraulic roller lifters that are their design (vertical locking bar) that works with cams over .570" lift ?

Maybe they meant to say...

What lifters did you order Cignificant, and what have you got for engines?

I was confused about the lifters, too. So I called Crane when I decided to use the 168741 cam last summer. I use the 13532 lifters. All three of my engines (two in the boat, one spare) are Gen VI 502s. They all came with GM rollers and the 502/502 cams.

The 168741 has a "notch" on the front nose for your retainer plate that holds the cam in place. They also make the 741-grind for older BBCs that don't have the cam retainer plate 139741 is the part# I think.

I got this off the Martell Bros website FYI

"The recent closing of the Johnson/Hy-Lift plant has jeopardized the entire Automotive Industry with regard to availability of hydraulic and mechanical lifters. Johnson/Hy-Lift's demise and the resultant lifter shortages have also had a serious effect on cam and lifter kit assemblies at most of the cam manufacturers. Each manufacturer who has responded to our inquiries is dealing with the crisis in the best way they can, but all agree on two things: lifter prices will rise dramatically, and the shortages will exist easily into the third quarter of 2002.

Availability and pricing of Lifters and Cam & Lifter Packages will change daily and may not reflect current availability or cost. You will be notified prior to billing/shipping if there has been a price increase on any Lifter or Cam & Lifter Package that is ordered.

"

HELP ! ! !
 

If anyone can help me find a set of Crane Hyd Roller Lifters,
I would be your "boat *****" for a day!:eek:

I am out of the water till I can get the parts,
Crane #13532

DaBeezer

I know somebody that's sitting on a whole pile of them. The problem is that he's demanding $600 per set! Supply and demand. :rolleyes:

The correct #'s
cam:139741=Mk4
168741=Gen 5,6
lifters: 13532-16
pushrods: 13628-16

I belive you only have to change the pushrods on a mk4 swap, but I'd check with crane. That is the combo I used and so far so good.
Dont forget the cam button if yours is a mk4
I paid $425 for the lifters from summit last year..so $600 aint to bad if you really want em and thats whats keepin you from boating.

Dan
BTW Check with Lanes Automotive in Mi. They stock them, and theres a place in Grand Rapids that wholesales speed stuff. Call Jim Valako for the # or maybe he can get them for you.

Wow $600...that's some "timber pricing" up there Cord!:eek:

I only paid $375.00 last time, but I guess it's the supply and demand thing. I think I will try and disassemble and "micro clean" my old ones, anything is better than sitting on the sidelines. :(

Thanks guys

I've heard that a roller lifter is a component that should never be reused. I'm guessing that it has something to do with marine engine loading, because it's perfectly fine to reuse one in a car. Guess that if you want to reuse yoursw, just be sure to replace them over winter.

Hang on there sport. ;)

The 139741 cams are used in GenV 502's too.
This cam needs both a cam button and thrust washer. Also uses the shortened pushrods too. Lifter #'s are correct.

The Gen6 motors use retainer plates for the cams, hence #168741 cam, which has the snout.

These both are roller cams.

Roller lifters
 

I have one set of hydraulic roller lifters, nib. Crower #66321 if intrested call 616-735-0800 JimV

Thanks Dan

If your looking for the stock GM/Merc stuff give Lenny a call at 586-468-7369 , he has quite a few sets in stock

Thanks to Jim V, I finally have a set of the coveted lifters.:)

Unfortunately, I forgot to order different pushrods since the Crowler's are slightly longer than my Crane's.:o :mad:

Oh well...we live and learn, it's all part of the "pursuit of the ponies"!:cool: :eek:

If anybody wants my Crane #13532 Lifters and Pushrods,
they are in great shape (22 hrs) and can be had for gas money.:eek: My builder only warranties his motors if we use NEW parts :rolleyes: , so I will be running a sale on some of my parts very soon!:)

Good luck everbody and thanks for the help,
:)

DaBeezer, when you are ready to off some excess parts let me know I want those lifters and possiblely the push rods, Thanks Jay. Here is my email [email protected] My cell # 616 8302541