Let’s Talk: Lifters & Valvetrain Failure

[flan]

I've done the Hamilton swap 2x Expect around roughly 30 hours of labor with all the little odd and ends like, fluids, gaskets, etc..etc.. The cab has to be lifted or engine pulled for this job to be done....both of my trucks, the rear main seal always had to be replaced due to leaks...go figure...And depending how many miles are on your truck..some things should be replaced as preventative maintenance while you're in there..best time to do it...I always updated the valve springs and bridges and got rid of that plastic heater hose nipple...and its the best time for a coolant bypass...ALL of that stuff adds up in the end.

I’ve seen lots of videos of the Hamilton kit being done with the cab on just the front clip gone. Why do you say the cab needs to be lifted or the engine needs to come out?

 

[Wheelz]

Cause its WAAAAAY more easier to just spend less than an hour to lift the cab and have full access around the engine. Have you ever removed the grill or the bumper and the entire frontend? All those bolts you gotta keep track of. Lifting the cab, its 4 bolts and unplugging come connectors..thats it...i had access to a lift which made it easy for that...guess i should've stipulated that.
But If you're a contorsionist and have small and skinny arms...have at it with the engine in there
But like I said, its a time for upgrades....ie, grid heater delete...headstuds...and checking on potential probs while you have full uninhibited access all the way around the engine

 

[flan]

Cause its WAAAAAY more easier to just spend less than an hour to lift the cab and have full access around the engine. Have you ever removed the grill or the bumper and the entire frontend? All those bolts you gotta keep track of. Lifting the cab, its 4 bolts and unplugging come connectors..thats it...i had access to a lift which made it easy for that...guess i should've stipulated that.
But If you're a contorsionist and have small and skinny arms...have at it with the engine in there
But like I said, its a time for upgrades....ie, grid heater delete...headstuds...and checking on potential probs while you have full uninhibited access all the way around the engine

Good point, I’ve never pulled a cab. I have pulled front ends on second gens many times for cam work, dealt with working under the cowl for pulling pushrods etc. I didn’t think it was too bad but maybe the 4th gens are a bit more work.

 

[Trash Panda]

Good point, I’ve never pulled a cab. I have pulled front ends on second gens many times for cam work, dealt with working under the cowl for pulling pushrods etc. I didn’t think it was too bad but maybe the 4th gens are a bit more work.

These new trucks are a nightmare compared to the 2nd gen’s