And there is a post over on
www.slantsix.org this AM asking about oil slingers and the author saying he had torn down several hydraulic lifter /6's and did not find a slinger in any of them. But, a real '74 /6 has a mechanical lifter cam so that does not necessarily apply. So there appears to be some transition to when these may have gone away. Maybe you have a later /6?
It'll be interesting to hear if it drives better now.
