A mechanic friend listened to it running, told me to bring each cylinder to tdc and push down on the rockers/lifters.
If there was a bad lifter, or lobe, I would be able to push down fairly easily, or the pushrod would be loose.
No can do.
Pushrods spin at tdc, no signs of being bent.
"Pushrods spin at TDC". To me that indicates no preload on the hyd. lifters. Of course they are going to "tick"! With no adjustment on the rockers, the correct length pushrods must be used.