Once they're adjusted properly, hydraulic lifters are virtually service-free. Sort of a "set 'em and forget 'em" situation. The oldtime complaint about hydraulics pumping up and holding valves off the seats was mostly caused by a combination of weak valve springs and too-high engine speed. One reason for trucks to continue to use solids after the cars went to hydraulic was that the trucks spent a lot of time wound up tight in the lower gears to pull heavy loads. Valves would float, and power was lost from pumped-up lifters if the engine over-revved, even momentarily.
If you're building a hobby truck or a Cowboy Cadillac that never gets used like a truck, go for the hydraulics.
Jerry
Last edited by Hotrod Lincoln; 02/17/2010 9:26 PM.
