Thanks for the info SS RRR! I'll probably just stay that route for now, and just try to optimize my current valvetrain, switch to hollow valves, titanium retainers, good valve springs, short travel Johnson lifters, etc.

 

No problem. Don't worry about the hollow valves. Ti retainers would be good. I'd also suggest Comp Cams Pro Mag rockers and chromoly PR's, which is what I'm running. IMO I'd stay away from LS7 lifters.

 

I currently have Harland Sharp 1.65 rockers, I'll probably stay with these unless I end up switching over to shaft rockers later. I was running LS7 lifters in this engine before the valve spring broke, a friend of mine with a heads/cam C6 ZO6 had 2 lifters go out and took out his cam, he's in the middle of a rebuild now as well. I'm going with the best lifters I can for this rebuild, which the Johnson short travel lifters seem to be the best option for hydraulic.

 

I went back and forth between hydraulic and solid lifters for my engine, and ultimately settled on short travel lifters from Isky. They are made by Johnson, have a max RPM of 7500, and can handle some decent spring pressures. I think a lot of people who have issues with hydraulic setups simply cheap out on the lifters and then put those lifters in situations that they were never designed to handle.