Worn cams = worn lifters

[probedude]

Jason,
Sorry, can't picture it.
Here's what I picture-
One end of the rocker arm rests on top of the valve tips, the other end
rests on top of the hydraulic lash adjuster.
In the top center of this rocker arm, the camshaft presses.

When the cam is rotated so the base circle is towards the rocker arm, the
lash adjuster lengthens to tip up its end of the rocker arm until there is
no more clearance between the rocker arm and the cam.

The cam rotates 180 degrees, now the lobe is pressing down on the center of
the rocker arm.  The hydraulic lash adjuster end doesn't depress, the valve
end does.

How does this change if the rocker arm is worn?

Thomas, the difference between the base circle of the cam and the tip of the
lobe is the cam lift ( times the ratio of the rocker arm).

Dave