What's the size of MEL Engine Lifters?

[Theo]

..... Of special note in my catalogue is a special hydraulic lifter being listed for use with adjustable valve trains of which the same lifter is again listed for all three of the aforementioned Ford engine families.

Those are probably the solid lifters. Very good information here Ted. I wonder why the Hylift Johnson lifter catalogue doesn't list the 385 series engine. If the reports were true that the 385 series' 460 lifters fit the MEL engine, then the Johnson catalog would list them. Did you skip a line Ted or were those reports wrong?

[Ted]

Those lifters listed for adjustable valve trains are hydraulic. Likely something to do with the preload is different. The 385 series uses a different lifter due to having to supply oil to the topend via the pushrods.

[Theo]

Hmmm, usually pre load is the same on adjustable and non adjustable rocker arms. Only difference w. the adj. rocker arms is that it can be adjusted more precisely.
You're right, I forgot about the oiling channels through the push rods on the 385 series.
I vaguely remember that they can be used though, by just ignoring the holes in the cup. Of course Johnson considers them different and consequently doesn't list them in the same line w. Y blocks, MEL, and FE, Anyway that's what I assume.
Thanks for clarification.

[Theo]

I vaguely remember that they can be used though, by just ignoring the holes in the cup.

Ouups, I might be wrong. Dunno if the issiue was not to use them due to a different radius of the lifter cups. Hey, ...I'm getting old and confused.

[Ted]

Theo. Meant to say that the bleed down rate is different between the two available hydraulic lifters. Going deeper into the catalogue finds two different variety of solid lifters also for the engines. As a further FYI, the 385 hydraulic lifter and the one for the small block Ford are also the same part number and interchangable.

[Theo]

Theo. Meant to say that the bleed down rate is different between the two available hydraulic lifters....

O.K. I understand. I didn't take this in account, my wrong.
From our current discussion here's a list according to the gathered information so far. (Please correct me or add info)
I would like to know in particular if all early Y block lifters or just the 1954 Lincoln lifters are compatible w. the MEL lifters.

MEL lifters are compatrible with the following engines:

Ford...........Y Block engines
Ford...........FE Series engines
Ford..........335 Series engines
Ford..........385 Series engines

[Chris Craft crazy]

Here is a quick photo of one of the marine solid lifters.... It must be the same as the automobile solid lifter...

I measure the same diameter of course, .8740, but the overall length is 1.838 by my measurement.

1959 solid lifter 430 Diameter: .8740 Overall length: 1.838

th_Solidlifters001.jpg (2.91 KiB) Viewed 9562 times

[Ted]

From our current discussion here's a list according to the gathered information so far. (Please correct me or add info)
I would like to know in particular if all early Y block lifters or just the 1954 Lincoln lifters are compatible w. the MEL lifters.

MEL lifters are compatrible with the following engines:

Ford...........Y Block engines
Ford...........FE Series engines
Ford..........335 Series engines
Ford..........385 Series engines

MEL lifters are compatible with all years LYB engines but not with any of the Y Block engines. There's a big difference here when talking Y Block engines.
MEL lifters and 385 series are not interchangable due to the pushrod oiling required in the 385 series. The sizes are identical but that's it.

I can tell you from experience that a pushrod oiling lifter placed in a non-pushrod oiling engine will keep the lifter pumped up and the valves open.

[Theo]

Ted thank you for the clarification. So the list goes

MEL lifters are compatible with the following engines:

Ford...........Lincoln Y Block engines (LYB).
Ford...........FE Series engines
Ford..........335 Series engines
Ford..........385 Series engines (solid lifters only)

[Theo]

Updated Info above added to the compatibility chart at
viewtopic.php?f=52&t=465&p=1862#p1862

Any corrections or additional information are well taken.