1st , most of the oil consumption issues are pcv valve related. There is no baffle in the valve cover to keep the oil away from the pcv valve and when it sticks open the oil is sucked into the intake and burned. Has nothing to do with oil passages. Had it happen to me I was using 1 qt per 3000 miles ,when the pcv valve stuck I used 2 qts in 1000 miles. I no longer have a pcv valve. back to 1 qt per 3000 miles.And no worries about when it the pcv valve will stick again.
2nd ,there is no way any vx with a 3.5 has stuck lifters. they do not have any. They have the camshaft in the head directly above the valves, I believe it is called a direct attack setup. No lifters ,no rocker arms.
also in 2002 they came out with the direct injection 3.5 which has more hp because the fuel is injected directly into the cylinders. I believe this engine is not a direct swap and you would have to change the wiring harness and computer.
I am in no way trying to start anything just correcting incorrect info. shawn