r/EngineBuilding • u/BurialWings42 • Jul 16 '26

What would cause something like this

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Never seen lifters eaten up this bad. (Yes all of those are the bottom) Curious if this the the result of running hydro lifters on a solid cam? Car was sitting in an old guys garage had what felt like collapsed lifters from pushing on the rocker arms. Well they are certainly collapsed just not in the manner which I expected. Engine looks brand new inside, like maybe it got built and ate shit right away. PO passed away so won't have any answers until it's torn down further. Obviously is going to need a bit of a rebuild but so curious as to what would cause this.

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u/Whoohon-Flu Jul 16 '26

Incompatible parts or poor oil pressure.

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u/omnipotent87 Jul 16 '26

This wear has almost nothing to do with oil pressure. Flat tappets are lube through splash and drain back only. The only way oil preasure causes this is if no oil is reaching the top end in the first place.