I just got off the phone with a tech at Ford Performance, the supplier of the 514 and other Ford crate motors.
Here's what the tech said about VALVE LASH adjustment:
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BiB: "Are these needle bearing mechanical roller lifters in the 514?"
Tech: "YES".
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BiB: "How often do I need to adjust them?"
Tech: "If you drive it say every weekend, maybe every 5th weekend or so, maybe every 800 to 1500 miles"
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BiB : "Are you sure about that? Some have suggested every 3-5k miles?".
Tech: "Sounds like excessive mileage between adjustments, to me".
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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BiB: "What adjustment method do you recommend?"
Tech: "Heat up your motor, pull one valve cover, adjust each of the 8 valves as quickly as possible, .025 gap HOT. (That's 25 thousands of an inch)
THEN, put the valve cover back on, heat the motor back up, and do the other side".
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Hope this gets noticed by 514 owners before it's too late. Needle bearings from the lifters, from excessive wear, all over your motor would not be a good thing!
There always is the option to switch to a hydraulic cam and lifters !