Once upon a time, most car engines used solid or mechanical lifters. But unlike most fairy tales that begin that way, there was no lasting happy ending for them. Hydraulic lifters first appeared in ...

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. Decades ago, when cars and truck engines used solid lifters, a cacophonous drivetrain was to be expected. However, solid lifters were phased ...

The engines of yesteryear were pretty simple, with tappets clackity-clacking away on cam lobes, opening valves, and making a ruckus while doing it. Mechanical lifters were adequate for valve operation ...