Early Hemi Tech Question

Working on my 52 Dodge which has a 330 Desoto Hemi. I need to change out the lifters. I know there are ten bolts holding down the valve train which also acts as head bolts. In order to remove the lifters the valve train needs to come out. My question is if I drain the water, let the block dry then remove the valvetrain
can I retorque the head or do I have to replace the head gaskets which means pulling the heads?

 

I have never tried that. When I was young, I could take short cuts and they worked out. now it would end in failure. Were the heads recently installed or has the engine been together for a long time?

 

Engine has around 4500 miles on it. Most driving has been around town. Has never over heated. I didn’t build the motor. Pulling the heads would be a major u dertaking given its recess into the firewall. From what I can tell the front clip would have to come off in order to get the motor out.

 

Thats the problem with early Hemi, once you loosen the head bolts you risk breaking the seal along with coolant theres oil. I would drain the coolant, do what ever it takes with the rockers and re torque the head and then run it and watch for any issues

 

Yeah, that’s what I was thinking. Not sure if the bolts go into the water jacket but surely draining the coolant would be part of the process. Wouldnt disturb the motor once the bolts are pulled, Re-torque would follow the proper process

 

In the past, during a road rally at one of the stops I noticed a leaking head gasket coolant on the ground, pulled the valve covers torqued the heads continued on.
In your case where you are removing the head bolts you would want to be sure there isn't a bunch of water in the cylinders. I used permatorque head gaskets and have been able to get away with a lot

 

4500 miles isn't a lot to have the lifters go out. I would drain the fluids and change the lifters if that is the problem and replace the head bolts with studs. I would also use a break in lube on the lifters. Worst case is you have to replace leaking head gasket but the studs will keep fluids in block. I would use new head bolts if not going the stud route.

 

The lifters are ok, they just not applicable to the Hemi. They are too short to clear the oil galley. Once they have pumped up they are fine.