After engine reinstall, first start up ends in disaster!

How much trouble are solid lifters? Probably won't be putting much more than couple thousand miles per year on it.
In that case, with a good solid stable valve train, id recommend that you adjust the valves every five years or so...
Mopar has had many solid lifter motors intended for everyday use, from slant sixes to hemis, gen one and two. Frankly, for a moderate cam (under .600 lift) I would trust the old cast iron adjustables more than aluminum roller rockers with roller bearings on the shaft. Its really too bad that nobody makes them anymore, tho I did see a thread saying they were gonna be made again.....
If that actually happens at the price point i saw ($250), i will be in line.