I know about converting to solid lifters from hydraulic but it is possible to go the other way and fit hydraulic lifters in place of solid lifters?

 

Only if the cylinder head has a oilway in the bore hole of each tappet supplying pressurised oil.
tabetha

 

yeah this has been done on my blacktop zetec turbo head,

cheers paul

 

What are the advantages of fitting hydraulic lifters, apart from being quieter

 

Not having to check valve clearance and shim all the time, convenience really. The downside is they don't cope with high rpms

 

They're not always quiet, when they go wrong!!
I am going solid/shim on my rebuild as sick of clickety click all the time, can't say I've noticed any particular noise from solid ones adjusted correctly, and only found on previous cars about every 25,000 might need a different £2 shim, mnost you can do swappsies with anyway for other tappets on the same engine.
tabetha