Redd Snake,
I kinda hate to admit it right here for the whole forum to see, but I had the same problem with a CO stroker I built a while back. On the first dyno run it made pitiful power and torque, sounded off kelter, and way too much valve train noise. I tore it down and 2 lobes were wiped out, and those 2 lifters were all mushroomed and would not come out the top. I tanked everything, reassembled with new bearings, double checked those two lifters as I installed them (to make sure they could spin) and went back on the dyno. Same song, second verse.... Tore it down again, same 2 lobes, same 2 lifters. I checked out the bores and they were not located correctly in the block. They were not at the right angle with the cam, causing the lifter and lobe to mate up wrong. I bored and sleeved the 2 lifter bores and it has worked great ever since. This block was a late model "cast as side oiler but drilled center oiler" block and was hydraulic. If yours is the same kind of block, check the lifter bores before you re-assemble. Also be sure you have all the various
oil plugs and plungers in place so your
oil pressure will be good... The cam relies on
oil spray and fog within the motor and has no other direct oil supply. If oil pressure is low, there goes the cam.
Best of luck with the engine!!!