Ticking valvetrain noise from fresh engine

I know you said you de-glazed the lifter bores... Did you actually measure the ID of them them? Any larger than .906 and they may tick. Any stock type lifter should be quiet, conversly and anti-pump-up or variable duration lifter will be noisey. And they require different preloads. My money's on the bores being a little sloppy. Did I miss where you said what the oil pressure was?