Dwayne, I will say Hughes tells me that's not an issue due to lifter only being there for a short time period..... I'm not buying that, what say you????
Only one way to know for sure.
Are these “real” hyd lifters, or limited travel lifters that are basically cushioned solids that are set off of the bottom of the plunger travel?
If they’re a “real” hyd lifter that have a pretty normal amount of plunger travel, and you’re going to run them with typical hyd lifter preload, then I probably wouldn’t run them like that, especially if that oil feed hole is extending above the lifter bore.
If they’re limited travel lifters that you’re going to set up at something like .010-.020 off the bottom, then I don’t think the leakage will matter at all....... other than whatever affect it has on the oil pressure.
The easy test to see if it’s the block or the lifter, just swap in a pair from a different cylinder.
The leak either follows the lifter, or stays with the bore.
