I'm beginning to think that I best stick with my original plan and install the solid lifter engine. If it behaves, I can check out the hydraulic lifter engine and keep it around for 20 or 30 years in case of "catastrophic engine failure". I really do not want to tear it down right now , though curiosity about its condition is killing me. Maybe I'll try to bench (in my case "pallet in yard") run it later to see what it sounds like. Anyway, it was 102 degrees under the old engine pulling mesquite yesterday, so I wasn't quite fast enough with this job and all will probably wait for fall. I might change my mind three times by then. Thanks for this input and any other comments.
