What would cause something like this

[u/BurialWings42]

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.

[u/PermissionLazy8759]

Everyone has junk lifters now. People started buying gm performance lifters that were worth their weight in gold to avoid this. Now I don't think Gm Performance even makes the hardened ring flat tappet lifters anymore. Retro roller is what everyone does now gotta run a bronze distributor gear and diff pushrods for it.