Junk lifters

Interesting idea. It would require surface reconditioning or at least cam to tappet integrity. It can be done at home but would need a surfacing plate.
Well sure, that's what I had in mind. Having the lifter body reground and then replacing the guts. Of course by the time you got it all done, you'd probably have spent enough to afford a big chunk of solid roller lifters. The critical point of doing it at home would of course be getting the crown correct and in the right place. Pretty much would mean purchasing a lifter grinding tool.