New Engine Lifter bleed off

[tortuga]

So a little history: When i bought the car it had sat for a long time, the CHP 427 Stoker Blew a head gasket right out of the barn, had a few other issues, and finally gave up the ghost when it ate a valve. On recommendations from a few sources i replaced the engine with a ford racing 427/535. It burned oil from day one. Tried all kinds of things. In hind sight i should have gone right back to the installer and had it pulled and returned it.

Fast forward, The engine needed to come out, i knew it. Not having the room and help to do it myself i had the local cobra guy pull it and send it out. Came back with alot of power, but was running pig rich, fouling plugs and made alot of valve noise. The installer was adamant that it was set up right and that i should not touch anything. Had a NEW holley 850 jetted 92 square, 11 degrees of initial and 32 final. The cam and springs etc are a mystery as i was told they were/are proprietary and would not be shared.

Had a local carb guy take a look and he recommended going smaller carb but in the mean time jetted to stock 84s...Also bumped the initial timing up with a 4seconds flat bushing and held total at 32. Also went to 3924 plugs vs the very cold NGKs that were installed, cleaned up the idle and stopped the plug fouling.

The valve train still worried me. Yesterday morning i went to start the thing to go to an event, and was met by an loud metallic rattle and rough (rougher than normal cold no choke start) running. Got out looked around thinking maybe i had left something in the engine bay? Tried it again and it smoothed out, but that rattle smoothed out to the more subtle noise i hear all the time.

Seems to me it HAS to be a lifter? My one page summary of the build cites the installation of "Custom hyd roller lifters with high performance valving".

Would these be more prone to bleeding off once shut down? Again no idea of the brand or model of the lifters...

Car has 1800 miles since rebuild, changed oil at 500 with Driven 10w40 synthetic. Drove the car HARD the night before...

Spent a very significant amount of money on this fix and am very very disappointed that I don't have confidence that this thing wont take a $hit on me again...

Thoughts?