Lifter leak down is rated in seconds.
The time it takes to get a valve cover off is enough for rocker arms to be loose.
If the check valve on the bottom of the lifter plunger isn't spring loaded... You would have to push down on the push rod really fast for the lifter to hold.
I suspect those lifters have metered oil flow to the push rod. Combine that with after market rocker arms... Oil flow to the top could be slim to none without spinning the engine over. Metering disc, under the push rod cup, needs slack (lifter on base circle) to get good oil flow up the push rod. Squirt hole in factory rocker arms lined up with the push rod hole when valves were closed (lifter on base circle). Where squirt hole in most roller rockers lines up with the push rod hole at half valve lift.
Take your spark plugs out, get your primer running, spin the engine with the starter and see if things don't change.
AND cap the fuel line off before you spin the engine over.
Clay
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