A happy day, got through the break in process on the new flat tappet cam and lifters. 'Cause it's an FE Ford nobody seems to have another Comp Thumper cam in stock, backordered or made to order, I found a Melling cam on fleabay, 506 lift, adv. 315 duration (224 @ 0.50) similar to the Thumper with a little wider lobe separation, used Comp lifters and installed the stock valve springs with the dampers removed. Slathered the cam, lifter faces, rockers, with moly disulfide grease, filled it with Lucas high ZDDP 10-40 oil. Also dropped the pan to get any debris from the failed cam and put in a new Hi volume Melling oil pump. Crossed my fingers and hit the key!
Actually last time the rear main was peeing out oil, I must have botched the install - redid it too, now no more drips....
Has that hot rod burble now...
Just have to pop the covers and rockers off and put the Comp valve springs back in, that will be fun compared to what just went on.