Newbie needs help

Could someone help a newcomer to the world of automotive repair? I have a 1990 MX-6 and want to get it up and running. People have told me that the "lifters are shot". The car runs but it blows a lot of smoke. It starts well at all times but has no compression anymore when I drive it. It is a standard transmission with a great CA body so I would like to save it after having now for 10 years but don't want to spend the cash to have a shop do it. I have the tools and now just need the schematics to get me started and any other instructions/info that someone in this forum could provide me. I appreciate any help.

Thank you,
Cheeto

Try changing the PCV valve if you havnt already.. friend of mine was puffing smoke until he changed that.. much cheaper than starting to undo cams n stuff, itll only cost a couple bucks

To change the HLA's you need to remove the Intake Manifold, Valve covers, and cams... for the cams remove the bolts holding the cams 1/4 turn each at a time, one at a time, to not break your cam in half.

Lifters, or HLA's are very expensive to replace them all... at 20$-25$ a pop and 24 of them on the car... you do the math :S Make sure it isnt something else before you decide to drop 500$+ on HLA's.