my hemi keeps eating its lifters..

bOb shingler said
the number one thing to replace in a new set of hydraulic tappets is the wire retainer. use the steel "C" clip type that takes the snap ring pliars.

THIS ^^^^^^^^

Also, if you are popping the retainers off lifters, you may not be running enough lifter preload. More food for thought.

I will never again use hydraulic lifters with those cheapo wire retainers. Never. No how. No way. Not even on a dead stock rebuild.