Not sure what I can offer but if you have a HP Tuners you can log cam angle commanded vs actual.
If you have set the cam timing wrong you will see it here.
It should not care currently that a 5.7 PCM is running it.

The oil pump is a valid point but I think it would only rear it's head as the weak link once the engine is pushed into the upper RPM and the ability of the phaser to overcome the spring pressure will show up.

What did the front cam bearing look like?

Have you tried another OCV for the VVT?