Roller Lifter "oil hole" Q
 

On a 5.0L engine, the roller lifter has a bleeder hole (to feel oild to the lifter)...

What side up? Should that hold point UP towards the valley, or down towards the pistons?

http://www.dariusrudis.com/temp.jpg

PLEASE HURRY, I am in the middle of it right now!!!

It doesnt matter. I have had my lifters out and in several times and never gave that hole the time of day, and never had a problem.

So, what way did you put it? My car is also apart and I was wondering if you found anything more out about the hole and if it matters?

Darius, i always put the hole facing towards the exhaust. i figure that the oil is going to stay on that side of the lifter bore a little more. but never put them the other way.

I put mine together tonight, and decided to put the hole on top for 2 reasons-

1. My Ford factory maintenance manual doesnt specify which direction, or even mention the holes, but in a picture in the book, it appears as if the holes are on the top side.

2. If the oil is coming out the top side of the bore, it will work its way down around the sides to the bottom, lubricating the entire bore. If it is on the bottom, the oil will just run out the bottom.

Hey gents,
I put mine together two weeks ago, and at that time, I was pondering this too. I saw a post a while back that said it doesn't matter which way they go. I put them facing the lifter valley, and have no problems at all. However I know in the past I haven't thought about it so I probably mismatched them. I didn't have any problems then either.

Come monday, I'll make some calls to Comp Cams and TFS and FRPP...
For me its too late, motor is buttoned-up, and they went in pointing up towards the lifter valley. Seeing that the hole is fed from pressurised passages, I dont think it matters.

I looked at mine when I tore the motor apart. They were pointing toward the lifter valley from the factory. I figured if thats the way ford built it I would put it back together that way.

Hey drudis, I did mine the same way for the same reason.

I was also told it did not matter though.

I beleive that is edge orfice metering? so the area just below the orfice fills with pressurized oil and feeds the lifter. So the space between the machined surfaces becomes the oil cavity in the lifter bore. Shouldn't matter which way they go in.

it doesnt matter... the oil will make its way through the entire surface.

This is correct. The "chamber" that is created by the groove in the lifter becomes pressurized as soon as the oil pressure comes up, so it really doesn't matter. That being said, I always install them with the hole pointing towards the lifter valley.

Take care,
-Chris