Hey Mike-
The choice between hyd roller, versus flat tappet should be weighed against how much life you think that engine has left after your broken valve spring mishap... As a matter of preference, I definitely would go with a roller over a flat lifter cam. There are just too many benefits that absolutely justify the extra cost.
AFR 185 heads do quite nicely with tight LSA's and single pattern cams, so the Comp Cams Magnum grinds are great "off the shelf" candidates.
However (Only a personal opinion here) - The 304 Magnum is an awfully big cam for your engine. The 292 Magnum is a better choice (JMHO).
You mentioned the 292 flat tappet, but they do offer a 292 hydraulic roller that is the best of both worlds
The 304 is designed to make power up until 6500rpm. That number does not denote the recommended engine redline. An engine with the 304 cam in it should be designed to safely run past 7 grand.
When you are cruising down below 3000rpm in 5th gear, that 304 cam is going to make your car feel like it's towing a boat.
the 292 roller has a nice 5800-6000rpm power peak, and with 110 LSA, it will still power through the midrange nicely, and the idle will still sound pure evil.
Just 2 more pennies, thrown into the well of public opinion....
