[77 TRASHCAN]

Schurkey,
I did two engine break-ins just like that in 1992. Mine was a very heavy duty engine stand. I was worried about flopp'in the thing over (as Steve states), no problem....

I got to watch my engine builder friend, assemble almost an entire engine, (flat tappet cam Chevrolet) got to ask a lot of questions, learned alot............

The first thing he did to block, after making sure all internals (oil passagess and crankcase) of the engine were sterile clean, was trial fit a lifter in each bore to make sure the lifter would spin freely.

After installing crank, rod/piston assy's, oil pump, pan heads, and cam, he preoiled the engine without the pushrods to make sure oil would come out of the lifter. (if oil doesn't come out, another lifter gets installed...)

As each lifter (w/ liberal amounts of oil on them) they are spun in lifter bore. To make sure that EACH lifter spins freely in it's bore.

After installing all of valve train (of course cam and lifters have moly paste on them...)
preoil engine again w/ intake off. Someone is turning crank by hand.
As preoiling is taking place and crank turning, you watch for oil coming through pushrods/rocker arms. AGAIN watching to see if lifters are spinning.

This has been my cam procedure for the last 20 odd years, have not had enough opportunities to put it to use..........

The cam lobe/lifter patterns look good to me also. I used a box fan in front of my radiator...

The only things that can cause the lifter not to spin are, lifter problem , lifter bore problem, pushrod problem (bent, I know, not likely), guide plate binding.

Don't be afraid to try another new lifter in that hole.

Keep up the good work!!!