340 lifter/cam problems

Ok, I got the fuel problem fixed on dad's challenger, Since its getting the proper amount of fuel now, the car will cruise without surging. The only problem left with the car is what I believe to be a lifter/cam problem. When you accelerate easy, the car does fine, but when you get on it, the car stumbles and backfires. Also, it has a bad tick at all rpm's, and does not go away when it gets warm. Sooo, I pulled both valve covers off and disconnected the coil wire, and had dad crank the engine. What I found is that on the #8 cylinder, both rockers barely move compared to the other three on that head. Also, on the #7 cylinder, the intake rocker barely moves about half the stroke of the other rockers on that head. Now, I pulled the rockers off and pulled the pushrods, they are not bent or anything, and the shafts are installed the proper way, so they are getting oil. I think either the lifters are bad, and are collapsed, or the cam is wiped. The engine is all original, and I can't see why the original cam that has 31,000 miles on it would suddenly wipe three lobes, but it is very possible. I won't be able to pull the intake for a week or so, but I wanted to get some opinions until then. Could a collapsed lifter have that much slack to provide the ticking and the slop to not allow the rocker to move that much, or could that only mean cam? A compression test wouldn't tell me anything I don't already know would it? Anyways, I think this is definately causing the car to spit and sputter at full throttle, and causing my tick, now its just time to fix it. By the way, car is a 1971 dodge challenger r/t 340

Thanks,

Will

Sorry, sounds like ya wiped lobes off the cam. Usually doesn't happen on seasoned motors, but with the oils nowdays, I guess anythings possible.

Are the rockers adjustable or not? Could just be out of adjustment. Also, drain the oil and cut the filter open and look for metal shavings. That will tell you if the lobes came off or not because trust me, there will be plenty of metal if they did.

No, the rockers are not adjustable, they are just the stock stamped shaft style rockers. I'm hoping its just a few lifters and not the cam!!!

Will

Small blocks are known to wear the rear lobes as they do not splash oil as well back there--lots of stock units I tear down have that trouble--It is the cam I bet..

Ok, if I pull the rockers out of the way, can you look down in the pushrod holes or head casting holes to see if the cam is wiped or not, or would you have to pull the intake anyways? Also, what would a collapsed lifter look like, can you tell by looking? Any other suggestions?

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Sorry, sounds like ya wiped lobes off the cam. Usually doesn't happen on seasoned motors, but with the oils nowdays, I guess anythings possible.

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a factory cam....

i dont think thats possible. t

stamped rockers? with what cam? a lash cap wore off.

just cranking it wont have full oil pressure to push the up rocker arm. thats if the lifter has bled down already since shut down.