Johnson Roller Lifters

I just swapped in new Johnson roller lifters for the original Morel lifters that were installed in my current engine from Tri Shield Performance. At the time, the hydraulic roller cams were a new TA product, and the Morels were what TA sold. My engine was always noisy when hot. With the hood up, I could hear what sounded like solid lifter ticking. I attributed it to the TA aluminum heads since they grow somewhat, reducing lifter pre load. I had read something awhile back here on the board about the Morel lifters needing a thicker oil because of larger internal clearances. I have always used 10W/30, and my oil pressure is great. I also read that JW no longer uses the Morels, but has switched over to Johnson lifters in all TSP roller engines. Naturally, I wanted the better lifter, and was curious whether my engine would be quieter with them. I purchased a set from Jim awhile back (TA now stocks them). Been procrastinating about putting them in. My engine runs so sweet, and I didn't want to open it up, but I did this week. Glad I did. The Johnson lifters are much quieter. All I hear now is the buzz from the roller rockers, and I got the engine good and hot, we are in the middle of a heat wave here in NY. Very satisfied. These are Jim's comments from another thread on Roller Rockers. (cut and paste)

"Yup, TA 1412-2 (or just specify Iron block 455 roller lifters, made by Johnson)

Worth every penny.

These lifters are available because after about a dozen sucessful installs of morel lifters, where maybe we had a little noise, but nothing one could not live with, I had one stick down on the dyno... first time it happened, I figured it was a fluke, but the second time, it was a pattern. This costs me about a grand in lost time, two dyno session fees, and parts, plus all my labor time.

I cannot do business like that, plus even worst fear is having this happen to a customer, hundreds or thousands of miles away, after they get their new motor.

I went on the net, and found plenty of guys with this problem with Morel lifters, on all different makes. So an issue exists, and then I actually heard the same thing happened to one of our board members here.

Time for another option..

So, knowing what lifters crossed over to also fit a 455, I went looking for a better quality lifter, and I found it at Johnson lifters. Short travel, precise metering and tolerances, fast refill rate, and high spring pressure capability. Just the ticket.

I started by getting them thru Isky, but eventually talked Mike at TA into doing a buy in with Johnson, so he could sell these to everybody who "knows better". I had sold a few sets to guys like Larry, but that's not really my business model, I usually just sell parts that only I have, or that I work on or spec out (heads, cams, intakes, shortblocks, 470 pistons ect ect).

I have used about a dozens sets of Johnson lifters now, with 100% complete success. I am about to go see if their claim of 7500 rpm capable is true, since I just ordered a big hyd roller for refresh of a 494 I did years ago.

After yet another issue with Morel lifters, not on the entry level 1412 set, but with a high dollar alum block set, where there we full of crap from manufacturing.. you could not pay me to run Morels.

I simply can't afford to take the chance.

Now you know better, buy inexpensive roller lifters at your own risk."

And Mike Tomaszewski

"I agree with Jim in regards to the Johnson roller lifters were stocking. Engine builds here at TA Perf get the Johnson's. But, based on the amount of Morel roller lifters we sell, which is a fair amount compared to the call backs, it's very very minimal. But like Jim, if theres going to be a problem with one it will be in an engine I built. It's kinda like installing our coated cam bearings verse uncoated. If it keeps helps the grief guru away it's worth the extra $$ to me."

 

For anyone else wanting to swap over, the Johnson lifters have a deeper pushrod cup, so you will need longer pushrods. The pushrod cup is .230 deeper. If you are swapping over from Morel to Johnson, and your pushrod length is correct, just add .230 to that length. I had 8.725" pushrods. I ended up with (8.725 + .230 = 8.955 ) 8.950" pushrods. It put my roller rocker adjusters flush with the bottom of the rocker.

 

Relevant threads,

http://www.v8buick.com/index.php?threads/morel-lifter-oil-weight-and-type.309285/#post-2570509

http://www.v8buick.com/index.php?threads/455-hyd-roller.303209/

 

Possibly, I remember guys using Chevy lifters back when we were having QC issues with Buick lifters. They also had a deeper pushrod cup.

 

Ken, I've used nothing in my engine other than Joe Gibbs 10W/30. First conventional, now synthetic. My engine was dead quiet upon cold start up. Just got noisy when hot. Been like that since I took delivery of the engine. That is with 3/4 turn past 0 lash, according to Jim. I know Jim had a few lifters stick on him, as well as a customer. I never had such issues, and wasn't worried about the longevity of them. In any case, the Morels I took out looked fine. I practically gave them to BrunoD, so they will see action in his street engine at some point. The Johnsons went in with 1/2 turn past 0 lash, per Jim's instructions. They are much quieter when hot.

 

Mine sat in the box for nearly 3 months while I procrastinated about pulling apart a perfectly running albeit noisy engine. Glad I got to it now.

 

Doubt it, the Johnson lifters I used cost double that.