Let’s be clear. New lifters for the 235/261 chevy are not better than the older USA made lifters. Not by a long shot. The problem with the new manufactured hydraulic lifters for 56-62 235 motors is with the design, spring and metallurgy. They simply will not do the job with any kind of reliability. Collapsing, sometimes within minutes of starting a motor for the first time, bad machining, bad crown, poor oil control design. They are not a copy of the original and do not perform as well either.
This has been going on for quite a few years now. Real Gm lifters are made from superior materials and engineering. In the 47 years I have been playing with the 235 and 261 chevy motor, I have never had a cam/lifter failure when using GM lifters and follow the appropriate pre lube and brake in procedures to the letter. A pretty close second is USA made lifters. But these lifters have to actually be made in the USA and generally need to be like 30 years or more old.
So while I read that article with great interest, it is not applicable to a Stovebolt lifter.
