Okay, that makes a big difference. Part of troubleshooting is to assess symptoms and draw relavent conclusions as to possible causes. You then start with the easiest potential problem and work your way back or in the case of electrical problems half split the problem (check the middle of a circuit in order to eliminate half of the circuit as the potential problem). In both cases visual inspections are the first step in troubleshooting.
So, we have:
1. parts that look like hydraulic lifter guts in the
oil pan.
2. wet spark plugs on one side of the engine
3. poor acceleration
4. engine ticking
If all of these are related and caused by the same problem, then I suspect a valve train issue. First step, remove valve covers and visually inspect rockers, push rods, valve springs and valve stem tips. A static visual inspection wil show you where the lifter malfunctioned immediately. But what caused it? Why are other spark plugs wet?
One potential answer is that the valves are improperly adjusted. This could cause poor acceleration (over tight would lower compression), wet plugs (intake charge not completely burned), and in the extreme broken lifter (too much preload/no lash puts excess pressure on the lifter). So, manually rotate the engine to TDC on the compression stroke for number 1. Wiggle the rockers. You should be able to barely wiggle them both and be able to rotate the pushrods with your fingers. If you suspect a problem, back off both adjusting nuts and retighten to zero lash plus 1/2 turn. Rotate the engine 90 degrees and make the same check with the next cylinder in the firing order (number 3 on your engine). Continue this until you have checked all 8 cylinders (two rotations of your engine). If all this checks out, then we will check valve train geometry (how the rocker tip rides on the valve tip), but let us know what you find before we go on. I'm betting you will find the problem before we get to geometry. Good luck my friend!
Mark