The Ford Barn

Sanddoc · 06-21-2020, 06:30 PM

Hello
So I like to learn things. And I was interested in the
"mushroom" head on the Y block lifter.. My search did not turn

up any other car manufacturer who used this..
But I did find a few articles on "big" diameter solid valves
Ask Anything , larger lifters. Hot Rod
https://www.hotrod.com/articles/ask-...arger-lifters/

I am sure some of you have asked this question, It seems strange
that only Ford would use this..but reading about the "larger" diameter
lifter, and how it moves "faster"..
The article gives credit to "chevy small block" and their 0.843 dia
then the 62 Ford 221, 0.875, then the then the 64 Mopar 0.904
Totally ignoring the Y Blocks 1.011 mushroom headed lifter..
Seems to me that with the head that big, but the body smaller
the Ford lifters are lighter, give more contact area, then either of
the other two... and came out in 1954.

Best

ponymare · 06-21-2020, 06:39 PM

Mabey ford thought it made the block stronger using smaller lifter holes, lots of tractor engines through the 60's used the same type lifter.

rotorwrench · 06-23-2020, 11:57 AM

Dodge used them in earlier years if I remember correctly but they may have been solids. A lot of antique car & tractor engines used them. They have a larger cam lobe to follower area to wear against so that also reduces wear to some degree and it lightens them up. Lycoming aircraft engines used them for years but they recently changed over to rollers. I've had one roller fail on a helicopter engine so far so I'm not all that happy about it.

TedEaton · 06-25-2020, 11:05 AM

The 215 Six when introduced in 1952 had the same mushroom lifters as used later for the Ford Y V8 engines. Before that, the Lincoln 337 CID Flathead used a mushroom lifter that was slightly larger on the shank diameter so it could be hydraulic (non-adjusting). The 226 Ford flathead six also used a mushroom style lifter but it's also slightly larger on the shank diameter than the later production 215/223 Ford Six and the 239/312 Ford Y. Many diesel engines also used some form of mushroom tappets if not using a roller camshaft. Ted Eaton.

Ole Don · 06-26-2020, 11:07 AM

Several years ago, while overhauling a 312, I discovered valve lifters for a 312 were not available anyplace. I asked the machine shop owner to just order me two sets for a Ford tractor. Lifters for the 134 and 172 industrial engines will always be available. Those little engines were everywhere, think about the M151A1 jeeps. Uncle Sam gave me one to drive, it was the coolest convertible a kid could have. Mag wheels, modern OHV engine, four on the floor, bucket seats, FM radio, folding canvas top, it had everything a kid could want in a convertible in 1967.

Y-Blockhead · 06-27-2020, 04:37 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Ford started using mushroom tappets back in '09 in the Model T so they're nothing new...

06-21-2020, 06:30 PM	#1
Sanddoc Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 46	Why Mushroom head on Lifter Hello So I like to learn things. And I was interested in the "mushroom" head on the Y block lifter.. My search did not turn up any other car manufacturer who used this.. But I did find a few articles on "big" diameter solid valves Ask Anything , larger lifters. Hot Rod https://www.hotrod.com/articles/ask-...arger-lifters/ I am sure some of you have asked this question, It seems strange that only Ford would use this..but reading about the "larger" diameter lifter, and how it moves "faster".. The article gives credit to "chevy small block" and their 0.843 dia then the 62 Ford 221, 0.875, then the then the 64 Mopar 0.904 Totally ignoring the Y Blocks 1.011 mushroom headed lifter.. Seems to me that with the head that big, but the body smaller the Ford lifters are lighter, give more contact area, then either of the other two... and came out in 1954. Best

06-21-2020, 06:39 PM	#2
ponymare Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 160	Re: Why Mushroom head on Lifter Mabey ford thought it made the block stronger using smaller lifter holes, lots of tractor engines through the 60's used the same type lifter.

06-23-2020, 11:57 AM	#3
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,425	Re: Why Mushroom head on Lifter Dodge used them in earlier years if I remember correctly but they may have been solids. A lot of antique car & tractor engines used them. They have a larger cam lobe to follower area to wear against so that also reduces wear to some degree and it lightens them up. Lycoming aircraft engines used them for years but they recently changed over to rollers. I've had one roller fail on a helicopter engine so far so I'm not all that happy about it.

06-25-2020, 11:05 AM	#4
TedEaton Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Central Texas Posts: 155	Re: Why Mushroom head on Lifter The 215 Six when introduced in 1952 had the same mushroom lifters as used later for the Ford Y V8 engines. Before that, the Lincoln 337 CID Flathead used a mushroom lifter that was slightly larger on the shank diameter so it could be hydraulic (non-adjusting). The 226 Ford flathead six also used a mushroom style lifter but it's also slightly larger on the shank diameter than the later production 215/223 Ford Six and the 239/312 Ford Y. Many diesel engines also used some form of mushroom tappets if not using a roller camshaft. Ted Eaton.

06-26-2020, 11:07 AM	#5
Ole Don Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: St. Michael, Minnesota Posts: 1,713	Re: Why Mushroom head on Lifter Several years ago, while overhauling a 312, I discovered valve lifters for a 312 were not available anyplace. I asked the machine shop owner to just order me two sets for a Ford tractor. Lifters for the 134 and 172 industrial engines will always be available. Those little engines were everywhere, think about the M151A1 jeeps. Uncle Sam gave me one to drive, it was the coolest convertible a kid could have. Mag wheels, modern OHV engine, four on the floor, bucket seats, FM radio, folding canvas top, it had everything a kid could want in a convertible in 1967.

06-27-2020, 04:37 PM	#6
Y-Blockhead Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Posts: 5,848	Re: Why Mushroom head on Lifter Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Ford started using mushroom tappets back in '09 in the Model T so they're nothing new... Last edited by Y-Blockhead; 06-27-2020 at 06:05 PM.