[Jay S]

I doesn’t make much sense to me that the variations in lifter cause issues in quality control versus a OEM making millions of something and having better quality control. JMHO… That sounds like bean counters limiting the time to finish machine to a std to produce XXXX / hr of product. Probably why better lifters cost more. Lots of GM lifters are just SBC bodies, not exactly one or two of something. My guess is cartridge is likely a different metal than the lifter body, easier and more precise to machine during mfg for closer tolerances and less time to machine. Win win for comp, hopefully better on our end too.

[Formulajones]

What I also see is that in the future if there is a problem with leak down on one of the lifters, it's a whole lot cheaper to just swap in a new cartridge rather than replace the entire lifter. Better for the end user.