Pre-lubed Hydraulic Lifters
A good way to pump up the lifters before pre-start is to install them, then prime the oiling system with a drill.
Have an assistant slowly turn the engine over by hand with the spark plugs out.
This will line up the oiling holes in the camshaft to the oiling holes in the block that send the oil up to the oil gallies at the lifters and on up to the heads from there.
With the valve covers and intake off you can watch as the oil makes It's way up to the valve rockers.
Can cut some cardboard skirts on the bottom half where the valve Covers go to help catch the oil that is coming off the rockers as you are cycling through the priming process.
Then you are all pumped up ready to start.