@MikeInNH. You are right. The old flathead inline 8 in the 1950 Pontiac didn’t have hydraulic tappets. I think we obtained a maximum speed with 90 weight oil in the crankcase of 20.mph. Therefore, we didn’t need fluid for the lifters.
The next morning after we got back to campus, my friend called a wrecking yard and the old Pontiac was hauled away.