I broke down. Cam is bought haha.

That's because it was me lol

I still have to finish tearing it down and get the machine work done, but buying the cam was a big hurdle. I'm glad I hesitated to order one before verifying the grind because I'd have been very, very unhappy to end up buying the wrong one on accident.

Cool... now you need to find out what is the best lifter to buy. I've read about one that has a small oil hole in the bottom to lube the lobe directly.
Time to pull that engine down to the bare block and start cleaning all the metal particles out.

My buddy, who's got plenty of experience with flat tappets, swears by Isky*. So I'll be getting a set of those when it's actually time to put it together. I'm not too sure when I'll rip it down the rest of the way- being a TFT at Ford means my employment is slightly up in the air, and if it wasn't for the perfect timing of an NOS cam of the same grind popping up as soon as I found out what's in it, I wouldn't have bought it. Unfortunately, as is all too common in life, I need to save up for a bit.

Sure, I could tear it down anyway, and I may even do that. I just have concerns I'll lose something critical having it all torn down for ages.

*These specifically look like a safe bet as long as I make sure the lifter bores are right. I'm merely thinking here, but I'd really like to have the cam broken in on a run stand, too, instead of in the car. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/isk-202-hy

If you don't see getting it hot tanked and flushed good for reassembly soon, don't take it apart...:biggthumpup: If I recall, you got a good stand for it ? I would pull the pan and start removing main caps to inspect for shaving damage to the crank and then put them back for now. If the crank is ground up, you know you'll be looking at regrinding at the very least, or replacement. If the mains look good, inspect the rod journals. Get as much inspection work done now, to know what you are facing for parts and cost. Just put everything back for now so nothing gets misplaced.

Pan is off (and very glittery as you all fully called- I'll own that one. I'm very thankful I decided to listen to those who have been there and done that). I'm about to have a week and a half off for Christmas so I'll probably take your advice and tinker here and there.

What prompted the engine teardown, low oil pressure or it was knocking, or something else?

Missing, back firing from wiped out cam lobe(s)

So is he going to replace cam, lifters, springs and flush out the motor and send it?

Or re gasket the engine too, check the deck surfaces, new bearings?

It's going down to a bare block, getting flushed, new bearings, etc. Pretty much everything will be done/checked except the pistons and crank if I can get away with it. Before it was missing, the exhaust lifter on #8 was hammering real bad, too so it was going to need it at some point.