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I am quickly zeroing in on some great options! Turning the motor over by hand made the rocker arms move the valves so slightly that you have to wonder?



If it has never been started it probably has no oil in the hydraulic lifters at all making them very soft.

In addition to my recommendations, I will second buildanother's suggestion about a new timing set. Unless it is some kind of heavy duty engine it probably does have the cam sprocket with nylon teeth. Even just sitting, that nylon has probably gotten brittle after all these years.