I've always heard that but I've seen a new lifter installed on a used cam and last quite a while,of course if you start running it hard it'll likely not last long but then we're talking an old tired motor here anyway so it's days are already numbered especially if run hard.
Might buy him some time to get funds for a new motor together or at least a new cam/lifters and timing chain set.

 

compresion is all over the place, it would be nice for it to be consistant.
do a leak down

 

Just wanted to say thanks to all who wrote back! All of your responses had some great information.

I've been doing some thinking on what the car needs most...so I'm going to save up some money to get a new cam/lifters/timing set. I can't get a new crate engine since I have to pass smog here in Cali.

I've been looking on-line for the best kits that will work for my car. But I have a question...what's the advertised duration and lift? There's so many different combos that Comp Cams has it's a little overwhelming. What would work best for a stock 350 engine?

I can tell you that I would like a good lopey sound, I have 3.42 gears in the rear and my idle is 600 RPMs, highway RPMs range from 2100 to 3200.

Thanks for the help!