I can't understand why someone with solid lifters would think they should make no noise? If someone wants an engine that is quiet find one that has hydraulic lifters.
My old 85 Ranger had a 2.8L OHV V6 w/solid lifters, quiet as hydraulics but needed readjustment every 10k miles
My current 72 VW 1600cc OHV air cooled dual port boxer engine w/solid lifters also is as quiet as hydraulics but needs readjustemt every 5k miles.
Many OHC engines use solid tappits. The 2.4L in my Mrs' Toyota require a disc/shim change to adjust the valves but after 85k miles it still doesn't require it.
IMHO, the lack of pressureized oil being applied at the pushrod-rocker union and also at the rocker-valve stem union is why these old stovebolt inline 6's cannot be adjusted to eliminate the tick.
Dave
