Quote:
..It sounds like you don't quite get the same bang for the buck on a hydraulic lifter head as you do on a mechanical lifter head...
It's not the cylinder head as much as all the hydro hardware that goes with it.
The only difference with the head is that it is wider and uses a wider valve cover / VC gasket. The wider head allows for bigger (1 inch) holes where the push rods go down to the hyd. lifters. The larger holes allow you to pull the hyd. lifters out, with-out removing the head. (it's not easy, but it can be done)
What does this say about the design? Did the engineers have a feeling that lifter access, for replacement, would be needed? (yes)
So let's review:
-The conversion to hydro lifters was an after-thought, done to an engine that was never designed to use them.
-The switch was done for emissions, not performance or ease of maintainance.
-The hydro set-up is much harder to initially set-up, but once it's correct, it works with-out adjustment.
-A hydro lifter has more moving parts and will wear-out sooner. This set-up is much more sensitive to dirty / poor quality oil.
I have always felt that the time I saved on ease of installation of the solid lifter set-up, far outweighs the time needed to keep them in adjustment. I have spent way more time "fussing" to correct poorly assembled or worn-out hydraulic lifter components.
DD