If they are hydraulic they need to be pumped in oil first.
The most common cause of lifters knocking is low oil pressure.
Sounds like your lifters are bad and might need ajusted or changed, it could be your cam not looping.
Yes, but you need to find out why they are knocking. May just need a valve lash adjustment.
because its either cold and not warmed up or you lifters are knocking but the would be a louder knocking sound
if it sounds like the knocking is coming from the bottom of the engine i would bet it was the rods or rod bearings may be worn. if the knocking is on the top ,then i would have the lifters and or the rocker arms checked.
no installig a starter wrong will not cause engine knocking. all that will do is maybe short fuses, heat up wires, ruin your starter, or melt wires. knocking isn't electrical it is mechanical like lifters, pistons, valves, things like that
typically no it should be hydraulic lifters unless someone has changed the cam and lifters in the engine.
the lifters
unless changed out by someone who changed the cam they are hydrolic
Could be the timing is a little fast.
Bad gas. Loose / worn lifters.
Probably not, a 2001 Windstar usually has hydraulic lifters that never need adjusting it could be a bad valve spring, or a bad lifter that will need to be replaced.