now that I review the post, I didn't mention the noise was there specifically after the new cam, I'm sorry about that...

We considered that the lifter was dead - but that would make two in a row and my machine shop (who has been doing this for 30 years plus) thought that the chances of this were about slim to none- I replaced the lifter before the cam to eliminate that possibility and then once the cam continued to go south from a previously bad break in, replaced the cam and we are still where we are.

Which reminds me of a question I don't think that I addressed earlier, the break in oil was dumped from the engine after the break in, and it was good break in oil that was used and the oil in it now has the zinc add...

Sorry this is such a pain in the a$$ to evaluate-

I do appreciate the direction...