How to instal lifters?

It technically does not matter because even though there is an oil hole to one side of the lifter, the oil gallery in the lifter valley pumps oil around the ridge in the lifter. Standard hydraulic lifters can spin anyways.

Roller lifters should be installed same lobe and roller direction. If not sure install with oil hole facing rear. (oil pressure from this direction)

Technically if reused, all lifters should be installed back on the same lobe...if possible. You'd probably be ok with couple unknowns if engine in overall good condition. It's just with a very worn engine and valve train combined with very low oil pressure, switching lifters around could create a condition that could "wipe" a lobe on the cam and a valve could cease to lift.

It's also a good idea to soak clean lifters briefly in oil (until air bubbles gone) to assist in initial valve train pump up.

Hope this helps.

If the lifters aren't filling with oil the oil pump must not be working properly. You have a bigger problem than your lifters.

not a valve, but a lifter. I will paste procedure below. You judge if you can do it or not. Recommend you replace them all while you're in there. If you let this go, the lifter will wear out the camshaft. Lifters are $22 each, and you have 8 of them. You will also need a new valve cover gasket.
Please let me know if you have questions, and thanks for using FixYa.

2.0L Engine
SOHC engine
See Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9

1. Disconnect the engine air cleaner-to-valve cover hose from the cover by compressing the hose clamp with pliers and sliding the clamp back, then separate the hose from the cover.
2. Remove the spark plug wire separators from the valve cover and set the wire assemblies aside.
3. Unfasten the three valve cover retaining bolts.
4. Remove the valve cover and gasket from the cylinder head.
   

WARNING Do not use any abrasive grinding discs to remove gasket material. Use a plastic manual gasket scraper to remove the gasket residue. Be careful not to scratch or gouge the aluminum sealing surfaces when cleaning them.

1. Remove the old gasket material from the cylinder head and valve cover mating surfaces.

Fig. Fig. 6: Remove the spark plug wire separators from the valve cover

Fig. Fig. 7: Compress the engine air cleaner-to-valve cover hose clamp with pliers, and slide the clamp back ...

Fig. Fig. 8: ... then disconnect the hose from the valve cover

Fig. Fig. 9: Unfasten the valve cover retainers and remove the valve cover-2.0L SOHC engine

If removing more than one valve lifter (tappet), mark the lifters and their locations as they must be installed in their original bores.

1. Remove the rocker arm(s).
2. Unfasten the lifter guide plate retainer.
3. Remove the guide plate and the lifter.

To install:

1. The oil feed hole in the lifter must face away from the oil feed hole in the cylinder head.
2. Lubricate the lifter(s) with clean 5W-30 engine oil and install them in their original bores.

Make sure the lifter guide plate retainer tabs are towards the rear of the cylinder head, and the lifter guide plate tabs are towards the front of the cylinder head.

1. Install the lifter guide plate and tighten the retainer.
2. Install the rocker arms.
   

Do not use any sealer with a silicone type gasket.

1. Install a new gasket and the valve cover.
2. Install and tighten the valve cover retainers to 71-97 inch lbs. (8-11.5 Nm).
3. Attach the spark plug wire separators to the cylinder head.
4. Connect the engine air cleaner-to-valve cover hose and engage the hose clamp

Hydraulic Lifters REMOVAL & INSTALLATION 4.8L Engines

1. Remove the rocker cover.
2. Remove the engine side cover.
3. Back off the rocker arm adjusting nuts and remove the pushrods. Keep them in order for installation.
4. Reaching through the side cover opening, lift out the hydraulic lifters. If your are going to re-use the lifters, remove them one at a time and mark each one for installation. They must be re-installed in the same locations. If a lifter is stuck, it can be removed with a grasping-type lifter tool, available form most auto parts stores.
   
5. Inspect each lifter thoroughly. If any of them shows any signs of wear, heat bluing or damage, replace the whole set. To install:
   
6. Install and coat each lifter with engine oil supplement.
7. Install the remaining components by reversing the removal procedure.
8. Once installation is complete, adjust the valves as described in the valve lash procedure. Fig. 1: Stuck lifters must be freed using a slide hammer type lifter removal tool
   

4.3L, 5.0L, 5.7L And 7.4L Engines

1. Remove the cylinder head cover.
2. Remove the intake manifold.
3. Back off the rocker arm adjusting nuts and remove the pushrods. Keep them in order for installation.
4. Remove the lifter retainer bolts, retainer and restrictor.
5. Remove the lifters. If your are going to re-use the lifters, remove them one at a time and mark each one for installation. They must be re-installed in the same locations. If a lifter is stuck, it can be removed with a grasping-type lifter tool, available from most auto parts stores.
6. Inspect each lifter thoroughly. If any of them shows any signs of wear, heat bluing or damage, replace the whole set.
7. Coat each lifter with engine oil supplement prior to installation. Tighten the retainer bolts to 12 ft. lbs. (16 Nm). Adjust the valves as described in the valve lash procedure.

6.2L And 6.5L Diesel Engines Fig. 2: Diesel engine valve lifter

1. Remove the cylinder head cover.
2. Remove the rocker arm shaft, rocker arms and pushrods. Keep all parts in order and properly identified for installation.
3. Remove the clamps and lifter guide plates.
4. Remove the lifters by reaching through the access holes in the cylinder head with a magnetic lifter tool. If you are going to re-use the lifters, remove them one at a time and mark each one for installation. They must be re-installed in the same locations. If a lifter is stuck, it can be removed with a grasping-type lifter tool, available form most auto parts stores. To install:
   
5. Inspect each lifter thoroughly. If any of them shows any signs of wear, heat bluing or damage, replace the whole set. NOTE: Some engines will have both standard and 0.010 in. (.0039mm) oversize lifters. The oversized lifters will have "10'' etched into the side. The block will be stamped "OS'' on the cast pad next to the lifter bore. and on the top rail of the crankcase above the lifter bore. WARNING
   New lifters must be primed before installation. Damage to the lifters and engine will result if new lifters are installed dry!
   
6. Prime new lifters by immersing them in clean kerosene, engine oil or diesel fuel and working the lifter plunger while the unit is submerged.
7. Prior to installation, coat the lifter roller with engine oil supplement. Re-used lifters must be installed in their original positions!
8. Install the lifters.
9. Install the guide plates and clamps. Tighten the clamp bolts to 18 ft. lbs. (26 Nm).
10. After all the clamps are installed, turn the crankshaft by hand, 2 full turns (720°) to ensure free movement of the lifters in the guide plates. If the crankshaft won't turn, one or more lifters may be jamming in the guide plates.
11. The remainder of assembly the reverse of disassembly.

Please don't forget to rate!!!!

2.2L Engine When installing new lifters, a pre-lube should always be applied to the lifter body. It is also a good idea to prime hydraulic lifters by submerging them in clean engine oil and depressing the plunger using an old pushrod. This allows the internal components of the hydraulic lifter to coat with oil before initial operation in the engine. All lifters should be replaced when a new camshaft is installed.
If any valve train components (lifters, pushrods, rocker arms) are to be reused, they must be tagged or arranged during removal to assure installation in their original locations.

1. Remove the rocker arm cover.
   
2. Remove the cylinder head assembly from the engine.
   
3. Remove the bolts retaining the lifter anti-rotation brackets, then remove the brackets.
   
4. Remove the hydraulic roller lifters from the bores.
   
5. Inspect the lifter and lifter bore for wear and scuffing. Examine the roller for freedom of movement and/or flat spots on the roller surface.
   

Remove the bolts retaining the lifter anti-rotation brackets ...



... then remove the anti-rotation brackets



The lifters are located in bores in the engine block



Use a lifter removal tool to remove the lifters from the bore

To install:
If installing a new lifter, coat the lifter body with a suitable camshaft pre-lube

1. Install each hydraulic lifter to its bore being careful to align the flat sides (top) of the lifters with the flat sides of the anti-rotation brackets. When properly installed the flat sides of each lifter are aligned parallel to the anti-rotation bracket. The roller at the bottom of the lifter is parallel to the camshaft lobe.
   

Make sure to properly align and install each lifter as improper installation of the lifters or brackets could result in engine damage.

1. Install the anti-rotation bracket retaining bolts and tighten to 97 inch lbs. (11 Nm).
   
2. Install the cylinder head.
   
3. Install the rocker arm cover.
   

Removing the hydraulic roller lifter from the 2.2L engine

You will need to pull the intake manifold and once you have it off, remove the rockers and push rods. Then you can remove the lifters. This is a pretty intense job (about 3.0 hrs for the novice). If you are installing new lifters then you will need to soak the new ones in oil for about 30 minutes before install.

You may have a collapsed lifter or it may just be normal if the engine has not been started up yet. If you are installing old lifters (or did not remove lifters for whatever repair you were performing) there may be debris/varnish on the lifter preventing it from returning under spring pressure. (In which case you should probably replace it.) Some new lifters are very soft before the engine is started and the lifter has had a chance to "Pump Up".

NOISE ON START UP DONT MEAN OVER HAUL TIME.FIRST MAKE SURE YOU ARE USING THE RIGHT OIL WEIGHT.DO A OIL CHANGE AND CHANGE OIL FILTER IF IT HAS BEEN A WHILE.I NOTICE PEOPLE WITH NEW CARS COMPLAIN ABOUT LIFTER NOISE. SOME GUYS HAS PUT A LIFTER QUIETNER IN THEIR OIL DURING A OIL CHANGE. PUTTING LIFTERS IN A ENGINE.YOU HAVE TO HAVE AT LEAST SKILL LEVEL CODE B MEANING YOU MUST HAVE BASIC KNOWLEDGE OF COMPLEX SYSTEMS.

Yes, you've overtightened the lifters causing the valves to not close completely. If you did not prime the new lifters before you installed them and tightened them with the engine off they are most likely collapsed. back off all of the rockers to just snug and make sure the engine is running when you readjust them. Usually you need to let new lifters sit in a can of oil for a while to fill up. I've used a syringe to fill lifters prior to installation. Did you replace the push-rods also? If so were they the same length as the originals?

If you just want to swap lifters it's recommended to get the newer generation lifters that have larger oil wholes that don't get blocked and cause lifter tick. new lifters should be soaked in diesel and be sure to keep magnest away from them so you don't magnetize the ball valve inside.

SOHC or DOHC?

There is a guide here that does just the lifters not valve stem seals
http://www.stealth316.com/misc/installing_new_lifters.doc
This should get you going in the right direction. I beleive i used a tool that is a flat bar with a 45 angle to press the lever down so i could pull the rocker and lifter but it's been a while and i don't know where i got the tool. it's flat with a red plastic coated handle.


If you are doing lifters then look at doing the Valve Stem Seals also. Saves you burning oil and keeps the engine running cleaner.
http://www.3si.org/forum/f58/make-your-own-valve-spring-compressor-15-a-217700/

official tool to compress springs is very expensive but there's a home made solution above. this works but takes some muscle and patience.
another solution that requires removing the cams
http://www.3si.org/forum/f1/vss-installation-removal-installation-tool-tips-460376/

I'd say the lifters is pretty easy but valve stem seals requires a little more tools wise and time.