Is there such thing as a good lifter?

Are we adjusting from the bottom or top our preload and are we noting the hole/valve height to know which end to set it so it doesn't hang the valves.
I used to get decent run of the mill lifters through pioneer, springs as well...very fair prices too.... then about 1 in every box become an off n on ticker...sometimes going away...random...at start up...then not and out of nowhere at idle stopping at a sign. I'd put my foot into and it would stop. I pulled it apart..nothing seemed bad. Was riding on a crane 340 bp cam. I almost want to say I had a mp hyd that I gutted and transplanted the inerds to the pioneer...but don't quote me on that.