He used regular Amsoil, not the break-in oil. Now he tells me he used 2 bottles of zinc additive...that may be an issue?
The oil pump was primed before firing it.

The cam is most definitely going flat. You might not be able to see it in the pics good, but it has lost a significant amount of material off several lobes.
Not sure exactly what valvesprings they are, but they're singles w/ a damper. I think they are Howards. Haven't checked the open pressures yet.
I didn't build this engine and it was partially disassembled when I got it after all the issues.

Old flat tappet cams seem to be fine for the most part. It's the newer ones that have issues from what I've seen. Even then it's hit and miss.
I have a 509 MP purpleshaft that's 30 years old and has been in two different blocks. Still runs great.
I have friends that absolutely know what they're doing (not getting into resume's) and have wiped flat tappets on really mild stuff doing everything correctly.