[blykins]

David, my dad used to do it that way.

I don't really see anything wrong with it other than the fact that it's not too precise. Some hydraulic lifter manufacturers require a specific amount of preload. There are some Comp lifters that are low travel and you set them at the top of the travel or with just a little bit of preload past that. I suppose it would be hard to set them that way with the engine running.

However, a lot of guys set the preload on hydraulic lifters the way that you mentioned and it seems to work.

That's one of the things about engine building. A lot of engine builders are very egotistical in the fact that they think their way is the only way. I'm more of the persuasion that there are several ways to get to the same destination and as long as you can get there reliably, then that's all that's asked of you.