Do you need to run a hydraulic camshaft if you are driving on the street?

The fundamental difference between solid and hydraulic lifers is that hydraulic lifters use oil to ‘pump up’ and act as a dampener between the camshaft and the pushrod. Solid lifters have much higher operating speed capabilities than hydraulic and will never bleed out or collapse. There is a common misunderstanding about the drivability and maintenance of solid lifters. Many think that you would have to adjust these constantly but that really isn’t true. I have always had solid lifters in my ’68 Camaro and check them every 4 months or so when I drive the car a lot. They are never off more than .001- or .002-inch and that can just be due to temperature inconsistencies when adjusting or checking. If you use the poly-locks correctly when adjusting, the valvetrain components should not loosen.