Good to know about the dist. gear. I knew about the Howard's. Didn't know about the Comp standard equip. Are the Comp grinds on a .904"? I don't know that it makes much of a difference on a low spring pressure roller, but any load bearing surface added helps some. I know the Howard's is cut to fit 904 tappet.
Scott has that break in machine, too. I suppose, worse case scenario, I have him throw some compound on the lobe and chuck a replacement Hughes lifter in it and see what it does, depending on the cost.
Amy's cousin works for him, now. He used to work with me, got in the door there, we were slow, so I told him to get in at his machine shop. I may get a friendly discount for some trial and error.
The first thing I need to do is pull it and mic it. If the lobe peak took a hit compared to the rest and needs baseline ground, I know it's hydraulic, but that won't make me happy and I'll likely have more cash in it than another Howard's flat tappet hydro.
If I can get it fixed/ remedied for a couple of bucks, I may try. I got lucky on the crank journal bearings. Maybe the engine just likes me and won't cost me another first born.
At this juncture, because of the added range of power coming from valve lift on a roller, sounds appealing down at idle for my combo, I think if I have to replace the cam and lifters, I'm going to skin the cat with a chainsaw for the roller. I'm sick of this. I got the bellhousing indexed and I want to throw the cash and clock at the gearbox to get the stick put in. I want this thing running, so I can dial AFR on the o2 and call it done!