Don, I am not an FE guru, but I know the basics and I am not clear on some things here.
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Are these hydraulic lifters? For sure???
Are you getting
oil flowing up thru the lifters and out the tops of the pushrods?
Did you pre-lube the lifters (assuming they are hydraulic)?
Are all the valves taping or just one or two?
Are these old used lifters with a new cam (a big no no)?
Are these FE lifters or "other" lifters with the same bore diameter? Are you sure??
Based upon how you answer the above questions would help me to make some suggestions.
Ed