The thing is, extended cranking on a new cam especially with stiff springs and little to no oil can cause permanent damage to the lobes / lifters. This is why I suggest not cranking it on the starter prior to starting.
I know that, but messing with it for days isn't going to help anything either and if he has (some oil) and none on the ground when he primes it a fire up while watching the gauge will answer the question real quick.