Classic/Antique Car Repair: 69 AMX WONT START, hydraulic lifters, plug hole

Question
THERE WAS NO AMX THERE CLOSEST WAS A MATADOR  ANYWAY  I TALKED TO A FEW PEOPLE THERE AND ONE GUY WHO BUILDS ENGINES SAID IT SOUNDS LIKE MY HYDRALIC LIFTERS MAY HAVE FAILED-- AND ARE NOT OPENING ENOUGH --FIXEN THATS OUT OF MY LEAGUE--- ANOTHER  GUY THEN SUGESSTED THAT I REMOVE THE VALVE COVERS TO SEE IF THE ROCKERS WERE GOING UP AND DOWN, THEN THE ENGINE GUY TOLD HIM AND ME THAT ---THAT WOULDN'T HELP AND THAT I NEEDED TO COMPRESSION TEST AT SPARK PLUG HOLE. THE ENGINE BUILDER GUY SEEMED TO KNOW WHAT HE WAS TALKIN ABOUT. HE SAID IF THE COMPRESSION WAS UNDER A HUNDRED THEN THE VALVES WEREN'T LETTING ENOUGH AIR IN--- COMPRESSSION HE SAI NEEDS TO BE 160-180

Answer
The "hydraulic lifters failure" is an interesting notion. However, you should be about
to determine the possibility without testing...If when trying to start the car, the car attempts to start on occasions (appears to almost start), then look at the timing. If you are not getting and attempts to start, that mean NO fuel is being burned during the starting process, and that could mean either a compression problem or the timing is really off.