If I have learned anything about the 4.7 engine, I'd have to say the infamous valvetrain challenges. As I start to plan my rebuild I have been considering changing out the hydraulic lifters for solids.

Being old school GM and Ford, having built them, drove them and raced them from the mid 60's I am aware of the advantages and shortcomings of owning them and maintaining them.... Always adjusting them, pulling press in studs. Having to stop on a lonely road in the Arizona desert to adjust valves and then run over his lift off fiberglass hood.
Yes, yes this actually happened to a kid (then) that I know. NOT ME LOL.

I would like to hear your take on the advantages and disadvantages of running solids over hydraulic in the 4.7 engine. If you have or currently run solids share your experience(s), I am all eyes...

This truck isn't going to be a daily. It may see the occasional trip to the dump to drop off tree limbs etc., occasional trip to the bait store and lake, short trips to get that bag of ice... Honey do's and yes dears.

 

I replaced all my lifters + springs and valve stem seals back in March. I briefly considered solid lifters, but this my daily driver and after going through having to loosen and shift the MC just to get the driver's side valve cover off, I was glad I had the hydraulics. If the truck is going to be the occasional go getter, why bother? Solids will only benefit you performance wise in the really high RPM range. You burning rubber with tree limbs in the back, or at the home depot parking lot?

 

Well shoot... So a parachute would probably be out of place too??

Your point is very well taken and has already been considered. Tinkeritous I suppose. I have been reading that often times what seems (to some) cause the issue is lifters stick do to poor maintenance. My thought is if the truck sits for a long period of time with a lobe holding open the value causing the lifter to bleed down and it is started it seems reasonable that it "might" kick the rocker arm off.

My mind was wandering back to my old 55 Chevy and solid lifter 327 engine sitting at a light loving the clack clack clack of rockers. Of course the adjustment clearances were much wider and a push rod engine so more noticeable. Probably never hear it on the 4.7.

Are you using OEM hydraulics? Synthetic oil?

 

Parachute might help catch all those flying tree limbs!

Usually the hydraulics won't bleed down much when new. It's when they get old and start sounding like a diesel on cold start that you have that worry. Mine did exactly what you said and kicked out a rocker, but that was after 300K miles of service. It had been cold-start clattering for years (actually, since I had it) and let me tell you, the guy I got the truck from was no maintenance freak. That particular lifter was seized solid. I could neither push the plunger nor pull it with hand tools.

I always run synthetic and would tell anyone with a 4.7L to do the same. I run 0W-20, which some disagree with, but standard dealer fill is now 5W-20 when the manual initially said 5W-30. 0W flows fast at cold start and pumps up the lifters fast. My engine seems to thrives on it! I've never seen sludge, except for under the oil fill cap, which sits high up off the engine where it's cooler, so things tend to condensate there.

After seeing the price of Mopars, I used Sealed Power lifters (Federal Mogul). They redesigned from the ones that look just like OEM and supposedly the new design (black cap) are less prone to bleeding down. You can see old and new below, as well as the box with part number. All the ones I got were made in the USA but I think they're making them in China now.

My advice to you is whatever route you go, don't let the truck sit too long for extended periods. Drive it once a week and you should be fine.