so i lashed my valves for 1/8 past 0 per lloyd elliots instructions and the only way i was able to do this was with the motor running. so, i ran em loose till they clacked, tightened em till they didnt clack and then about 1/8 past that. i now have good vacuum (16") which i didnt have before and the car seems to run pretty good (except for another minor issue) but after i shut the car off the rocker arms seemed way loose. they would easily wiggle left and right and up and down just a little. my questions is, do i need new lifters and am i loosing lift as these things pump up to make solid contact with the valves? also has anyone tried those rhoads lifters, if so, any comments?

 

As long as you have Comp "R" Lifters, that is normal. Just make sure to let the car warm up properly before you go out and beat the car. On my valvetrain, we have the valvelash set at 0 and it runs the best times that way. These Comp "R" lifters are finicky.

 

sorry, i should have specified, these are the stock lifters

 

It's normal with any lifter. If it's quiet don't worry about it the rockers don't get moved side to side anyway.

 

they arent really quiet, but i have read that roller rockers are noisier than stock. my main concern is with that much play, could i be losing lift since the lifters have to pump up that extra amount to "take the slack out". oh and again has anyone had any experience with rhoads lifters? thanks

 

The sideways motion isn't slack.If they ain't clacking then quit worring. If ya read up on lifters ya will find out ya loose lift and duration on any hyd lifter.
Ya don't want to fool with Rhodes,I put them in a '55 back when they first came out and they are a PITA and I don't think they make roller lifter's,unless they just started in the last few years.