‘72 304 Lifters, Clean Vs Replace

I inspected all of my lifters as the TSM recommended. They all seem usable. But the engine sat for years so I know at least some of them are probably gummed up pretty bad. I have them all out and labeled in order. Should I just take each one apart and soak them in something (if so, what is most effective) or just buy new ones? Not replacing the cam at this time. Assuming marrying new lifters to current used cam is ok to do as well. It seems there are different opinions on this too.

 

New lifters on an old cam is acceptable. So is old lifters on old cam, if their position is preserved. Old lifters on a new cam is bad.

Pretty much a judgement call. Most of a c-note to replace them, so not nothing. If the engine has not run, I might replace them rather than put them back and have one or more tick. If the engine ran before and had no tick, I'd reuse them. I might also convince myself that I could replace one or two that ticked after the engine was together. Shops often have a lifter tester - maybe your local machine shop can test them. RockAuto shows Sealed Power and Melling - I'd be ok with either.

Carburetor cleaner? I don't think there are any soft parts inside, but if so, no carb cleaner for them.

My impression is that these lifters can get gummed up, and then some cleaning would help. But they also just wear out - clearances get slack, and they drain off too fast.

 

It would be tedious to dismantle and clean each lifter, while keeping each's parts separate fron the others, and keepng them in order of the lobe they came off of.
If they look real clean with little to no deposits, put them back in where they came from. Also check the face of each for pitting and that they are still slightly convex. You can use the side of another lifter to see that it still has a little "rocker" to it. Otherwise, buy a fresh set.
I've found brake cleaner is about the best cleaner for parts like this.
-Donny

 

Having "been there done that" I'd ask myself "do I want to rip the intake off again if the cleaning doesn't work...thereby spending as much for two intake gaskets sets as it almost would have cost for a set of new lifters the first time?" Just a note from experience....