appreciate the kind words guys - I know I've been a bitch about this. It's not rocket science - I simply keep beating my head off the wall with this and the redundant responses here are as frustrating as the problem itself.
I am not the only person working on this car. Joe Shuler of Slowboy Racing and Pat Donaldson (see #2 fastest 16g 1/4 mile time) have been working on this with me. We've been f***ing with dsm's for over 8 years now. It's usually the 3 of us bumping heads however - and I tend to seek this site for "good/sound advice"
I don't know everything, or very much for that matter - try to understand that and I'll settle down.
Checking the timing w/o a cover is simple. Cam gear timing marks level with the head and the crank timing gear lined up. Pretty simple. Turn it over 6 times, all marks line up. Timing is on. CAS is centered. Keydiver chip set to 1000 rpm idle. Never seen a car that wouldn't hold an idle before, and the only thing I can point to is the cams as far as the culprit. Nothing else changed. Didn't have to do anything to lifters - they are brand new 3g style and the car fired right up w/ perfect compression.