you posted that the cam was .498 ex lift---that will be at the valve of course and with a 1.5 rocker means that cam lift will be aprox .332------ put an indicaror on the lifter and see how much lift your getting----------I'm betting cam is wiping out---------


another thing----with it running does the pushrod rotate?????????????means the lifter rotates!!!!!!!!!!! no rotation--cam wiped


what oil did you use????break in stuff??????