I'm doing more searching and finding agreement that these XE cams are noisy, correct springs or not.

Quote: "FWIW, I called Comp Cam again and got a different tech. He told me pretty much the same thing that I would have some lifter noise with the XE cams."
http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/archive/index.php/t-5955.html

If Comp Cams is saying "some lifter noise" we know their being conservative.

Found a few Chebby guys complaining as well. One person posted Comp Cams told him on his XE hydraulic go preload from half to one full turn, should help reduce noise. Yea right, just keep cranking the preload down boys until its quiet... who cares if your valves don't even close...pfft*!