Solid and Hydraulic lifters on a stocker.

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by Bill Bogues

I'm trying to understand the difference between a blocked hydraulic and a solid lifter. To
my way of thinking they are one and the same.I've ran both on the same cam and don't see why you have to run valve lash on the solids. With them checking cam lift at zero lash I don't like giving up any lift or duration at the valve.With our current combo the solids are definately better above 7000 than the hydraulics.Anyone out there running solids at zero lash that's willing to share.

Bill, Before the professionals get here, I'll give this a shot.
I'm not an engine builder but I hang around with a few.
Years ago, hydraulics were supposed to have at least .015 travel in the plunger. Later ,it became.."well ,we just want to see it squirt oil when we compress it in tear down".
Okay, so I'd get a piece of c/m tubing and cut spacers that would leave close to .010 travel.
Then I'd set the pre-load down to 1/6th turn ( one flat of the nut). That way, if I heard any clatter, I'd know something was wrong. Did the lifters collapse a tad and lose a few thou lift? Who knows?
Then along came the officially named Jeff Lee Rule, allowing solids.
No, you can't run zero lash. Too hard on the cam face, for one thing. The hydraulics allowed a bit of a cushion. All solid lifter engines run at least some. Some motorcycles I had were pretty tight..2-3 thou.
So now you have to run some lash. Yes, you'll lose a few thou. lift, but you might have lost it on the other side anyway.
My way of thinking is the solids ought to be cheaper, but also lighter, so they should be worth something.
I know, some people said the same thing about roller rockers.