take off the valve cover,remove the rockers,take off the intake manifold take out the push rods,then pull out the lifter,if the lifter is mushroomed you may need to get a lifter puller
Take a pushrod and push down on the plunger in the lifter. A hydraulic lifter is spring loaded.
yes
Push rods bend when there is no more clearance between valves and that no. 3 piston. There could be a foreign object sitting on top of that piston...or those valves set too tight.
350 Historically a 396 has valve and lifter problems. A 350, of which I have owned a half a dozen, are great motors.
65 ft-lbs on cylinder heads and 45 ft-lbs on connecting rods
45 lbs
flat
The 1997 Chevrolet 350 lifter will feel springy if the wrong O-ring is installed. There could have been to all rings install, accidentally.
yes
45lb Rods 65/75 main inter/outer45lb
PUSH rods and rocker arms... yes.