A while ago, I wrote to the list about a kent cam tappet that had rusted
(along the vertical, up and down, exterior--not the point of contact with
the cam),in storage. Well, I took the rust off with naval jelly and emery
cloth and I was left with a pitted but otherwise decent enough lifter that
still moves smoothly in the bore.
I took the tappet down to my local brit-guru, old jag restoration, new jag
repair shop and asked the owner/mechanic about the tappet. He told me that
if it were his car, he would use it, but if he were building an engine for a
customer, he would replace it. He was otherwise noncommital.
My question to the list: how should I translate this advice????? Was he
telling me that the lifter is just fine and shouldn't pose a problem but if
it were a customer's car, he would want to be absolutely certain, or was he
saying that since he does this stuff for a living, replacing the lifter,
should it fail, is an easy job so go for it. (?)
Yeah, strange question, I know, but I'm curious to see how others would
respond to this advice... My only hesitation is that ordering a new set of
tappets from Kent Cams means another month of mail delays, another 37 pounds
sterling (what's that convert to these days???), and I really, really,
really want this engine in the car by the 20th of this month.
Thanks guys for your patience with this greenbean!
Will
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