[Formulajones]

Shucks I use the link bar retro fit stuff in street cars all the time, have been for going on 30 years without a failure. That's all we had decades ago and I haven't found a reason yet to stop using them.
Only time I deviated from that was a recent 351 windsor build I did for a customer. And the only reason I deviated is because Ford makes it so easy to convert the old (69 351 in this case) blocks to the modern roller lifter with spiders. The holes for the spider are already there in the old block, just have to tap them and everything drops in, but that's another discussion.

I think the OEM zero failure rate is directly related to 2 things, and it's not really the quality of the lifter. It's the very lazy lobe profiles they use and the fact that most all of them run with as little as 70-80 or maybe 90 lbs. seat pressure.

But I've gotten great service and longevity out of hydraulic rollers running 120-130 lbs. seat pressure and these days most recommend about 150 lbs. seat pressure for any decent street type lobe profile. Will that go 100k miles? Don't know, but the last few I've put together are running those pressures. Don't see a reason to worry.

I understand the budget thing though...