First thing I tried was the nut on top of the Rocker, it's very tight. The springs look "kind of old".
The engine is from a 1986 police interceptor. I believe it went through an "engine recycler". It has about 12,000 miles on it post install into this Cobra. It's got an edelbrock performer manifold and some nice COBRA aluminum valve covers, but appears to be stock in all other ways, including the cylinder heads from what I can see. (They are stamped "Ford" and "9D24") It looks very clean and nice and was obviously cleaned up and painted, but I don't have specific information as to whether the cam and lifters were ever replaced when the motor as it is now was assembled.
What you say makes sense. While this engine runs reasonably well (I never take it over 5000 rpm and I drive it only on the street) it may be on borrowed time. I'm just waiting for loan of time to come due
