A call for experts - 87 GN Cranking, firing weakly but never getting off the starter...

[grass doctor]

good stuff here ... following

 

[TexasT]

Wow, that engine took some real beatings being turned over and not primed. I hope they used some good assembly lube on the internals. I like to soak lifters before install and really like to disassemble em before the soaking to get the manufacturing debris out. It is amazing what is in some(most) of them . It is not a mystery why so many cams get wiped out if steps aren't taken to make sure things go well. Just assembling one is a recipe for disaster. And people wonder why things cost so much. Lots of labor to make sure things go well.

Glad you got it started. I'd change the oil and filter and send it. If it is hurt the damage is done. This way it will have clean oil and filter at least.