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I have the "hemi" springs rated to .500 lift, so I guess I am slightly weak with the springs. I lubed the lifters on the bottom and sides and made sure they spin looslely. I have a standard valvetrain. Maybe I should upgrade to solid lifters if that helps? Need to get this thing going!

well, springs rated to 500 lift but trying to use them with a 509 cam ain't going to work well unless you are real lucky. Spring goes to coil bind and is solid - something has to give. with luck it will be a push rod bending.
Springs should have at least (preferably more) .060 more travel than the valve lift. Same with clearance from the retainer to the guide/seal clearance. To avoid possible further problems the entire engine should be torn down and flushed and cleaned to get the filings that are all through the engine out.