Hydraulic vs sold lifters -- IDing

[CBoz]

This is something that I should be able to do easily but can't:

How can I tell by looking whether I have solid or hydraulic lifters in a V12? I have the intake off of a core engine, and can see the lifter bodies, but can't tell which kind it is. Any help would be appreciated.

[Rolf]

Been a long time for me Cecil, but I think the hydraulics have a flat center section with kind of a narrow O-ring around it, the solid lifters are basically 1 piece with kind of a tapered portion under the valve, unless they are the after-market Johnson adjustable types which have a 7/16 head bolt in the center, also check the numbers on the heads and manifold, the prefixes for the numbers also should tell the tale, as only the '36 and '37 engines should have solid lifters, '38-'48's had the hydraulics, hope that helps, Rolf