Yes it matters and you should only be able to put them in one way with the hole facing up. It will not only ruen the lifter it will ruen the cam too if it were in upside down. Now if all it good I would get a can of sea foam and put 1/2 a bottle in the engine and see if it quiets the lifters.

Answered by racefan966 (expert)
4,866 answers provided

The lifters are Hydraulic rollers! I reused the lifters when I rebuilt the engine and just had problems last saturday so I replaced them Thursday night as I found 5 of them collapsed. I still have a lifter tap so I was just wondering if I could have put the oil hole on the side of the lifters in the wrong direction! Sorry If I wasn't clear!

Thanks

Response from Firemnted
17 questions asked

No if the roller is on the cam side then no there is no wrong way you could have have put them in. I would drop in a 1\2 can of sea foam to see if something plug one.

Answered by racefan966 (expert)
4,866 answers provided

How long do I let it run with the sea foam I let it idle for about 10 min last night and no change! Do you think it could have spun a cam bearing?

Response from Firemnted
17 questions asked

Cam bearings make a squalling sound not ticking. I would say you may have recieved a bad lifter or have a loose rocker arm. You can leave the seafoam in the engine till you next due oil change.

Answered by racefan966 (expert)
4,866 answers provided