Lifters are between the cam and the valve, valve spring, spring retainer. Spring and retainer control the valves opening and closing. How are you going to float a valve due to the lifter not pressurizing/pumping up? Valve float is due to the spring not being able to control the valve's opening and closing motion, commonly happens when a motor is rev'd beyond its valvetrain's ability. If theyre ticking, they arent filling up all the way and if anything arent opening the valve enough. Not good for performance but its also not going to kill anything other than a bit of power. Also, he knows his lifters are bad..... he shouldnt be spinning the motor into the rpm area where valve float could occur.

Of course thats assuming they are ticking/not filling completely or properly. Never stated what they were truely doing. If the lifters stayed too full (rarely the case), they would keep the valve open. Resulting in loss of compression, poor combustion and possibly a valve touching a piston.

I have never heard of a ticking or sticky lifter causing valve float. Id like to see proof.