My engine has not been run for many months and I am sure the hydraulic lifters have bled down by now. I want to go ahead and install a set of 1.6 full roller rockers while the car is torn down, but I'm wondering if the lifters need to be pumped up before I put them on in order to get the vlave lash correct? Would it be best to wait until I restart the engine or can I do it now while there is no oil in them?

 

I'd fire up the engine with your old rockers first, then do the swap.
I have a motorhome with a 350 in it and it gets started about once every 6 to 9 mo, it never fails to start with a few cranks and it doesn't make any strange noises or anything like that. It just starts and runs, period.
It has a stock cam. I don't know if that would make a difference or not.

 

When you get those rockers on, let us know how they performed ok?