Yes, it's possible to adjust the tick out of a solid lifter setup. No, it's not practical unless you do what the guy in the first post does- - - -spend way too much time adjusting. Anyone familiar with cam degreeing understands the concept of a "clearance ramp"- - - -a short section of the cam lobe with a very gradual rate of lift designed to take up the clearance slowly before the actual valve lifting process begins. If a clearance ramp is .006" tall, guess what the specified clearance will be? Exhaust valves run hotter, so they need more clearance, which translates to a taller clearance ramp and a different adjustment specification. Even hydraulic cams have that ramp, but it's very short, and usually only 2 or three thousandths tall. On the closing side of the lobe, there's a "deceleration ramp" that slows the valve speed down just before the valve touches the seat, and then the clearance goes back in with a second low-movement lobe segment before the base circle portion of the lobe.
To get it completely right, the valves would have to be adjusted initially using a degree wheel and a dial indicator, and every valve would have its own clearance specification to exactly match the clearance ramp for that lobe. Not exactly practical to eliminate a little tick!
Jerry
