Lifter advice

[Strato_54]

Afternoon all, looking to do the WD21 cam swap. How ever, on start up and occasionally around 2-3k rpm cruising I can hear an audible rattle/knock from the engine bay. I do have lower than typically normal oil pressure when warm so I’m guessing one of my lifters are not too happy knowing they’re junk factory anyways. Running 10w 30 and still seems to be there. Oil pressure is normal idle but 2k 40+ when it should be closer to 60 
 

with that said, if I’m taking the work to swap the cams should I do new lifters while I’m there? There’s no issues other than a slight noise. If they’re fine just leave it is my thing but what’s everyone else’s take? Thanks. 

[alexg89]

really depends on how they look id say.

 

I just re did headgaskets on my 96 and i had 4 or 5 that looked like this. didnt realize till i was putting it back together.

Even then i still ran them and it barley makes any noise so i got lucky lmao

 

https://imgur.com/27n9NYb

[Strato_54]

On 4/7/2026 at 3:08 AM, alexg89 said:

really depends on how they look id say.

 

I just re did headgaskets on my 96 and i had 4 or 5 that looked like this. didnt realize till i was putting it back together.

Even then i still ran them and it barley makes any noise so i got lucky lmao

 

https://imgur.com/27n9NYb

Oh wow! ok, so if any of mine look like that or worse then MAYBE consider replacing. got it. When I'm in there I'll inspect them and decide. WD21 are getting rarer so I'm trying to buy up the parts I want even if I don't put them in right away

[Slartibartfast]

Hopefully yours don't look like that! A couple did in the VG33 I was going to put in mine, and some of the missing material had found its way past the pickup screen and chewed up the oil pump. The crank and cam bearings were all shot, I assume from low oil pressure. It still ran surprisingly well.

[Strato_54]

7 hours ago, Slartibartfast said:

Hopefully yours don't look like that! A couple did in the VG33 I was going to put in mine, and some of the missing material had found its way past the pickup screen and chewed up the oil pump. The crank and cam bearings were all shot, I assume from low oil pressure. It still ran surprisingly well.

Wow, noted. Im on the hunt for the cams now I haven't had any luck looking at my local pick n pull but I've also been thinking about this for only a week so. From what I've seen I think I'll tear it apart as soon as I get the cams. What should I upgrade with then or just get a set of OEM lifters from somewhere? I'm not much of an engine builder so brands I'm unsure of what to go with and what's available 

 

I've gained enough spare parts and have torn my engine apart enough in the last 2 years it shouldn't need any "while I'm in there" other than the lifters I was asking in the first place. When I get into it I think I'll make a separate thread talking about my process and how it affected my rig. After doing the 4.6 swap and my super pack, I want it fast!

[Strato_54]

Also yeah for low oil pressure they run great. Cold it maintains fine, but warm at idle its 10 PSI 2000RPM is 40+~ and 3000RPM+ is usually closer to 60 but still not quite. Nissan spec is 10 idle, 60 at 2k.

 

this to is also why I want to do the upgrade to see what's going on in there for my oil pressure to be so low. It's been like this since my original post about oil pressure and I've done unthinkable things to this engine and it's still going. not on purpose mind you lol. I think a VG is harder to kill than a K series