National Desoto Club

Has anyone replaced the lifters on a 55 291 without taking the rocker arms off by cutting the pushrods. and replacing with adjustable pushrods?

Hmmm. That sounds unnecessarily destructive, and risks getting metal filings in the engine. I suggest using a valve spring compressor to relieve the pressure on the pushrod, then slide the rocker to the side against it's positioning spring, and remove the pushrod and lifter.

You might want to check the rocker arms and pushrod length. The oil holes that lubricate the top of the pushrod tended to collect sludge and plug, as did the hole that lubricates the rocker to valve stem joint on the intake valves. You may find your pushrods have been worn down, which can make the lifter run out of range. Late 1953 through 1955 intake pushrods should be 8-53/64 inches long, and exhaust pushrods 10-7/64 inches long.

As long as you drain coolant, you should be able to remove the rocker bridge without disturbing the head gasket so you should be able to remove the bridge, clean the rockers and put the whole thing back together.

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Brent Jacobsen
Owner of a 1952 Desoto Firedome

Thanks Brent. I will try that. Bill Ranshaw