Pat - thanks for the education on guide plates. Not going to use the guide plate even though I do a set of Manley's left over from my last 351W and never used. With the hydraulic lifters, I would need shorter push rods by about the thickness of the plates - plus I'm using reasonably stock iron heads

Randy - it's not that I don't check in daily, just am cutting back with too many other things going on now. I too hope that the loose pulley 'cures' the noise. If not, I'll have to do an engine tear down.

Dave S - I'm probably going to change the fasteners on that pulley to hex heads and heavy duty washers - too many skinned knuckles