<VV> a different oil conversation

[Ray Rodriguez III]

I'll start with the question to avoid the "too long, didn't read" problem. 
Is there any easy way to check an engine to see if it has already sustained 
significant wear of the cam lobes without taking the engine apart beyond 
valve covers and oil pan removal?  I had to replace one lifter about 7,000 
miles ago in my engine (with the 280 Isky cam) because the clip had broken 
in it and I did not think any break in was necessary for such a small 
repair.  Add to this the fact that I had never heard of ZDDP at the time and 
you can see where the problem is.

As to the rest:

Excellent replies guys, thank you.  For those who are not sure that the ZDDP 
is really necessary after break in I did some internet research and the 
short version of what I found is that starting less than 10 years ago newly 
rebuilt flat tappet engines (mostly for hot rods and muscle cars) started 
suffering a high rate of cam failures.  The cause is probably a combination 
of metallurgy and decreased ZDDP in the oils.  Apparently a big part of the 
problem came when flat tappet lifter production dropped due to lack of 
demand and cheap imports became common.  It was also mentioned that there 
were some changes to the metallurgy of cams at around the same time.

In the end nobody knows for sure what primary factor caused the problem, but 
it is known that using oils high in ZDDP (and preferably synthetic) 
drastically decreases the odds of wiping the cam after the break in is 
completed.

The conclusion I draw from this is that the ZDDP is probably a lot more 
important to engines built with new parts, particularly hi-po custom builds. 
Those with stock engines and original GM cams are far less likely to ever 
have a problem and might not concern themselves with the ZDDP issue.