Author Topic: Lightweight M52 hydraulic lifters (Read 29871 times)

martin347 · « **Reply #45 on:** April 03, 2008, 09:14:02 AM »

Quote from: Boyracer;46003

I think they are without oil, I measured empty stock E36 M42 lifter and the weight was close to what was indicated in ETK. Oil can add some 10-20 grams to total mass.

Thats alot of weight saving, if swaping to solid lifters. Even before you take into account mechanical ones are lighter anyway.
But where can we get some mechanical lifters? Those ford ones are close. But there must be a manufacturer that makes them the right size. I have been told alot of diesel engines have solid lifters.

martin347 · « **Reply #46 on:** April 04, 2008, 01:25:26 AM »

Just found these-
http://rosten-performance.com/pages/solid_lifters.html
Seems fairly cheap, but they are 0.8mm too thick.

swiss318is · « **Reply #47 on:** April 04, 2008, 04:16:01 AM »

Interesting... i talked a half a year ago with my engine man an he said to me that the rev limit on the m42 engine was mostly given by the hydro lifters...!! so i am gonna trie the swap to solid ones on my brand new engine... do you think i can make solid lifters on my own? it doesnt look very complicated?!? some high quality steel...some cnc... some polishing... finished? or not??

swiss318is · « **Reply #48 on:** April 04, 2008, 04:43:38 AM »

what do you think about making the valve springs out of titanium? is there a special titanium recommended?

Paul Strefling · « **Reply #49 on:** April 04, 2008, 04:49:01 AM »

Quote from: swiss318is;46079

Interesting... i talked a half a year ago with my engine man an he said to me that the rev limit on the m42 engine was mostly given by the hydro lifters...!! so i am gonna trie the swap to solid ones on my brand new engine... do you think i can make solid lifters on my own? it doesnt look very complicated?!? some high quality steel...some cnc... some polishing... finished? or not??

Problem with solid lifters is sourcing the shims. Shim kits for such an application are very expensive; this leaves you to paying someone with a kit to do your shim work.

swiss318is · « **Reply #50 on:** April 04, 2008, 04:51:06 AM »

what means "sourcing the shims"

whats a shim kit? sorry my language is german :-)

Paul Strefling · « **Reply #51 on:** April 04, 2008, 06:27:14 AM »

Here is a link that goes over the shim kit: http://m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=199411

The price is actually not that bad.

Boyracer · « **Reply #52 on:** April 04, 2008, 01:26:51 PM »

You can convert hydros to solids and it should not be too difficult. I talked about this with expert week ago and got useful first hand advice.

Just remove the high pressure assembly from lifter core (I have heard that it can be removed by hitting the lifter to something solid in a right way...), then remove the cylinder inside high pressure assembly. There is a small spring inside.

Basically you need to replace the inner cylinder and the spring with piece of solid steel that you then trim to correct leght to allow suitable valve lifter to camshaft clearance.

So it is the middle component on last pic you need to replace. I think it will have to be around 15 mm long and diameter should be as close as 10,80 mm as possible.

That is quite heavy chunk of metal (which we do not want) if it is solid so maybe steel tube is best bet. I think it does not have to be extremely high quality steel because it is not subject to high stresses. You still use same hardened part that contacts the valve tip.

Boyracer · « **Reply #53 on:** April 04, 2008, 01:36:31 PM »

Idea occurs!!! :eek:

I just removed the dark tip of inner cylinder. It contains tiny spring and small steel ball and they together act as a valve.

You can see shape of the inner cylinder top in photo below.

Basically you just need to manufacture tiny shim that goes on top of the inner cylinder and pushes against the top of the outer cylinder! Diameter is 7,0 mm and lenght about 5 mm, maybe bit more.

Quite simple really

romkasponka · « **Reply #54 on:** April 04, 2008, 05:32:15 PM »

Do you need to block oil suply to the inside of the lifter? I think oil pressure inside is not a good thing..

colin86325 · « **Reply #55 on:** April 04, 2008, 05:35:26 PM »

Arrow Precision also makes a variety of solid shim products:

http://www.arrowprecision.co.uk/followers_stock.php

Boyracer · « **Reply #56 on:** April 05, 2008, 01:23:40 AM »

Quote from: romkasponka;46161

Do you need to block oil suply to the inside of the lifter? I think oil pressure inside is not a good thing..

DOH! Yes, the small hole in oil groove around lifter skirt must be blocked by soldering it closed. Otherwise the lifter is full of oil which adds weight needlesly.

Also, hole or two should be drilled to bottom of lifter to let out the oil that might accumulate there.