Ok so I changed the lifters and put the engine back together tried to start it and it wouldn't so I had to take it back apart to set the timing then I put it back together and cranked it over and it cranked over for about 5 sec then it made a clunk noise and it stopped trying to crank over so i tried cranking over again and it just went clunk so I was wondering if maybe the battery is dead or maybe the starter needs to be changed or what? I need help please.

maybe the lifters should have been put in time with the engine. if u got new lifters, did you get new rocker arms as well? i have a ASA late model with a 604 crate engine, when we changed the rockers and lifters we had to do this. don't know if this helps you any, i would recommend going to a shop that tunes engines though