Hydraulic vs solid cam for weekend cruiser, Pros and con Options

[914Sixer]

I know that the hydraulic is frowned on. All of the later type 4 motors went this route. Even the last Type 1 Beetles from Mexico went there too! The newest 911 are hydraulic.
I am not going racing just crusing in my 73 2.0. I know the power band is different but most of the driving will be under 4500 rpm. I plan on running some modified Hoffman AMC 2.0 heads, 94mm Euro pistons, 1.7 rockers with 911 swivel feet, solid rocker spacers and stock FI. Nothing exotic.

[ahdoman]

Mark,
I'll chime in hear since I currently own a 74 2.0 with hydro's. When I purchsed the car one of the hydros was airlocked. It took a lot of research to figure that out and I finally got the air out and it operates fine. I am really pretty happy with the hydros. I do not race or do AX but I do drive the car fairly hard. I currently have my engine out of the car and am beginning a minor clean and rebuild. I am going to keep my hydros because now that they have settled in they are really easy to live with. Here are a couple of tips I have found...
1) Use good synthetic oil. I run Royal Purple. All it takes is a little spec of dirt to clog a hydro. Synth helps to keep em clean.
2) Prior to changing the oil put a can of Marvel Mystery Oil in the case and drive it good for a couple of days. I usually try to put about 500 miles on the car once I've done that. The Marvel oil will help to loosen any of the gunk that may have clogged a lifter.
3) Supposedly you only have to adjust the hydros every 10k miles or so. I still check mine occasionaly. That has made it possible for me to find thier "happy place" for adjustment (mine is at about 1.25 turns past contact).
4) Here are a couple of web pages dedicated to hydros that help me a lot...
http://www.ratwell.com/technical/HydraulicLifters.html
http://www.bostonengine.com/articles/hydraulicll.htm

I like mine, I'm keeping them.

[Johny Blackstain]

Mark,
I'll chime in hear since I currently own a 74 2.0 with hydro's. When I purchsed the car one of the hydros was airlocked. It took a lot of research to figure that out and I finally got the air out and it operates fine. I am really pretty happy with the hydros. I do not race or do AX but I do drive the car fairly hard. I currently have my engine out of the car and am beginning a minor clean and rebuild. I am going to keep my hydros because now that they have settled in they are really easy to live with. Here are a couple of tips I have found...
1) Use good synthetic oil. I run Royal Purple. All it takes is a little spec of dirt to clog a hydro. Synth helps to keep em clean.
2) Prior to changing the oil put a can of Marvel Mystery Oil in the case and drive it good for a couple of days. I usually try to put about 500 miles on the car once I've done that. The Marvel oil will help to loosen any of the gunk that may have clogged a lifter.
3) Supposedly you only have to adjust the hydros every 10k miles or so. I still check mine occasionaly. That has made it possible for me to find thier "happy place" for adjustment (mine is at about 1.25 turns past contact).
4) Here are a couple of web pages dedicated to hydros that help me a lot...
http://www.ratwell.com/technical/HydraulicLifters.html
http://www.bostonengine.com/articles/hydraulicll.htm

I like mine, I'm keeping them.

I have been dreaming of this for years, since I've been adjusting my valves for 33 years. Question: Did you replace your 2.0 w/ a bus 2.0 or did you have your engine modified for oil lifters? I heard once that the "gallies" have to be drilled out & then you can go hydro on any type 4. If you had it modified, who did the mods? Also, can anyone tell me what year did the 6 go hydro? Thanks. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool_shades.gif)