Moparforlife aluminum as I am sure you know will warm up lots faster than an iron one. Especially with hot oil splashing off the cam. That is why my Offy is plugged on my work van.

Dave I've never seen a Mopar head that didn't have sloppy guides. If you have it apart might as well do it right.

I am going through this same stuff on a slant that lost oil pressure. I looked at the cam when replacing the crank and bearings. Lifters look fine, lobes have weird looking pits. Changed water pump as the factory one was still there. Doing the freeze plugs, new oil pump, pickup, timing chain etc.........sometimes things snowball