----- Original Message -----
From: "John Rodgers" <j_rodgers@CHARTER.NET>

> Why would anyone want to do it unless they were going to build a super
> high performance engine.

*tappita-tappita-tappita*

> 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.

*tappita-tappita-tappita-tappita-tappita* ;)

Some people just don't feel hydraulic lifters work all that well in VW boxer
engines, I suspect, given their tendancy to bleed down all the time and take
forever to pump back up.  I used to have a '75 bus with a '77 rebuilt engine
with solid lifters.  It did get pretty old crawling under there every 6,000
miles to adjust the valves.  My Honda has solid lifters, too, but at least I
can get at the valve cover without lying on the ground.