> Why would anyone want to do it unless they were going to build a super
> high performance engine. The reason for industry going to hydraulics inf
> the first place was to eliminate some problems inherent with solid
> lifters in production engines, i.e, periodic manual adjustments for wear
> beng one. hydraulics eliminate this as well as maintain proper clearence
> at all times, which reduces negative effects on engine operation.

This is what i thought, too..............5 years ago and after really
pulling wrenches on a lot of vanagons since.............

Currently, I will not build another motor for myself that has hydraulic
lifters.  In theory, hydraulicas are supposed to do as you state.  But in
actual practice and experience with dozens of late bay window busses and
vanagons, got to say that is not the case. Who has hopped in there vanagon
to hear a clackity lifter?  Often those things raise so much hell after a
van has sit for a while an owner things something is really wrong!  I tire
of the endless rants about different ways to adjust them
correctly........with solids, .006 and you are done.  Also, you just check
them every oil change.........does this give you more info about the
condition of your motor?  Hell yes.  You can spot problems before they
occur, AND when you hear a funny sound from your motor, you can really look
into it, instead of assuming it is a lifter..........

Many cars have hydraulic lifters, but VW did it mainly (i believe) to reduce
the amount of maintenance a buyer would have to do or pay to do.  That being
said, the people that own these cars nowadays tend to be more on top of the
maintenance (at least those of us on the list) and checking valve lash is
really no big deal.......actually maybe stops a leaky valve cover a head of
time.

Some may think I am crazy, but there are others that feel the same way, such
as Jake Raby...........many posts about this on the Shop Talk Forums.  I
have formed my personal opinions based on expereince, not on opinions, thoug
h
>
> John Rodgers
> 88 GL Driver
>
> Ken Lewis wrote:
>
> >Replace hydraulic lifters with solid? This sounds crazy enough to work,
> >or does it just crazy?
> >
> >http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2413788504&
> >category=33614
> >
> >Good Luck and Drive Safely
> >Ken Lewis
> >86 Crewcab, 60 356 T-5
> >http://Neksiwel.20m.com/  My German vehicles,  O2 sensor help, headlight
> >relay mod
> >http://EB03.20m.com/     Everybus 2003 pictures
> >
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>