Bucket (solid) tappets

[Cody Forbes]

Well thanks for the replies everybody. Seems it's pretty much not within 
reason to switch over to solids. Short term solution? I'm running a small 
ammount of ATF in my engine oil, it helps alot to keep them pumped. Long 
term? Maybe do some work to the oiling system and bump the pressure just a 
touch.

On a slightly different topic, back to the old debate about drivetrain 
losses and such. Tonight I raced a Viper (he actually lives a few houses 
down from me, but I've never met him) and was just about even with him, 
actually a marginal ammount faster. We were cruising along at about 30mph in 
second gear to start and ran up to a full 7500rpm in third which needless to 
say is purdy quick with my gearing. I even got it all on video for the 
skeptics. What does this prove? Well a stock Viper is rated at 449hp, I 
pulled 381whp and guestimated about 460-470 at the crank. from the slight 
slight advantage my way in speed I would say there was a 10-20ish hp 
differance between us, and remember I'm spinning up more inertia with the 
extra pair of axles and extra two differentials. Vehicle weights I estimate 
to be very simmilar with my 180lb friend plus 100lbs of stuff in the trunk. 
Outside temperature was about 75 degrees F and very humid (recently rained), 
which is about 10 degrees cooler then when I measured my power.

-Cody Forbes
http://www.5000tq.com
'87 5ktq 381whp
'88 90 4cyl