Jim:

Anything that rubs in its operation will wear, and original orientation should be maintained.

In ither words, yes, put the rod, piston, tappets, rockers, valves, push rods, everything back in its original position. This is especially true concerning the tappets, their rubbing contact on the cam lobes is the most highly loaded rubbing contact in the engine. Second highest is the con rod on the crank pin.

Bill.