I'm (re)assembling roller lifers in SB Magnum, and want to be sure I'm doing this correctly. Obviously, the hole in side of lifter barrel goes face up, aligning with the oil feed passage in block. But what about the small hole in the cap which allows oil to the pushrod? Is there a need to orient this hole with respect to the lifer. It doesn't appear to matter, but I would rather ask than pull the engine apart and fix later. Thanks...

Of the 16 roller lifters in my '86 318, 11 or 12 were oriented with the hole in the lifter body up, the others with it down. Either orientation resulted in the same wear pattern on the lifter body.
Consider the flat tappet lifter; it rotates constantly. That same hole is continually moving. As long as the groove that the hole is in is pressurized by oil, the lifter functions.

As for the orientation of the hole in the top of the lifter, isn't it in the middle of the cup?

R.

Every magnum, and non magnum roller small block I have ever taken appart has had a paint dab on the top of the lister facing in, and Ive always put them back that way. Thats from the Viper v10, the truck v10, magnum v6, and v8s, and rolle 318 and 360s. Just always figured that was there for a reason.

Kasey

I wasn't concerned about the hole in the center of the lifter, but rather the hole which in the SIDE of the cap at top of the lifter. The pushrod oiling is supplied from feed in the center cavity of the lifter barrel, and then is passed thru the hole in the side of the cap and eventually out the top and up to the rockers. Folks are telling me I need not be concerned with the orientation of this cap, but as stated, I'm simply looking for confirmation of that.