solid lifters coversion question

[914/911]

Lifter conversion question here

My 77 bus has the later hydraulic lifters. Would like to convert back to solid lifters.

Have access to new solid lifters and pushrods. Can this be done without changing the camshaft. I've heard several people who said it can be done without changing the camshaft. Can I re-use the camshaft without splitting the case and changing it.

[busman78]

As soon as I post this the Samba lynching party will pound on my door, but then again they have never done it.

It works, did it to a 78 engine, take the PR tubes out, pull the hydraulic lifters out, check the base of the lifters that they are not grubbed and look into the lifter bores at the cam lobes, as long as they are not flattened or pitted you are good to go, slip in the solids, solid lifter push rods, you can use the current rocker arms, do your first real valve adjustment and know that you will discover a sinking valve seat before any lazy VW bus driver that shuns the concept of adjusting valves.

One caveat, there will be a slight decrease in power due to the difference in cam profiles between hydraulic and solids, but I lived with it for till a 7-11 plastic sack carelessly deposited through the side vents by a obnoxious customer got sucked over the fan intake which caused a little over heating issue.

Now I also ran a carburetor, never tried it with a fuelie if that is what you have, shouldn't really matter.

[airschooled]

What problems are you trying to solve by converting back?

Are you aware of the camshaft profile functional difference in “ramp?”

Robbie
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[aeromech]

I’ve read that cams are specific. No practical knowledge
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[SGKent]

I am not much help here either. Some people I have known did it but the books say that the profiles are different so it wears much faster. The main reason hydraulics cause issues in a VW engine are

1) too horizontal so they get air in them easier and knock until the air bleeds out.
2) Owners don't adjust them annually so they don't know a valve is sinking.
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[Wildthings]

I have heard both arguments, some say it is okay to go hydraulic to solid and some say the opposite, but I would guess either will work fairly well.

Do take a good look at your cam before sliding in the solid lifters, the cams are a weak spot of a Type 4 engine and if your cam is worn too badly you should just go ahead and bite the bullet and split the case and install a new cam. A minor cam upgrade can get you a decent power pump for not a lot extra.

[busman78]

This is not a "better than", slipping in solid lifters is a fix for failing hydraulics. If there is wear on the lifters, cupping or pits then then slit the case, ditto for the cam. If you do this exchange the cam/lifter break in procedure is the same as if the cam was new which includes slathering the base of the lifters with a break in paste.

There is no performance gain, this is a fix not a cure. My preference would be to install a sold cam/ lifter set.