Like I said all you had to do was count If the noise is 1/2 the speed of crank and parts = valve train, Same speed as crank and parts...has to be...crank and parts .
I am not clear on one pt here, are you useing the old block ?

 

See the first post for the history. I'm guessing the PO got it REALLY hot. Funny though as the piston looked ok when I had the head off the first time.

 

No old block has damage on teh cylinder walls.

Picked up a used SO motor, totally complete. Had to reuse my HO wiring harness, there were a few small differences, my AC comp(the one on it had a siezed clutch), PS pump(the donor one got wacked somewere along the way), and the oil pan pickup tube(the donor truck was wrecked when it went of the end of a road and into an embankment, diff came up into pan).

Engine is assembled with a new SB 450HP clutch, new rear main seal and oil pan gasket. Sitting on a hook waiting to go in.....

 

OK then I will not be a PIA..If you were going to put the old back in , I would think the piston oil cooling jet should be checked....would be good to know when the autopsy comes up