[Richard Grant]

Always run several magnets inside the motor and the drain plug. It gives you a better idea how much metal you're dealing with and pulls it out of the oil to prevent damage. It sounds like you've checked the suspect areas and found nothing. It's hard to tell about the cam though, you need to check lift if you haven't. I am not familiar with Smith lifters. If they are the same as Schubecks then you should have no cam problems, if not I don't trust anything but Schubeck type lifters with todays oils and spring pressures.