How dished out is it? Grab a pic with a straight edge ruler on it?   I've had worn lifters where the cam was still ok, (and actually still ran good too, but clattery).    

Yeah that looks pretty hammered    

Hey, today I pulled my lifters on my XF and now know that my cam is fucked. Anyone know where I could get a cam and lifters for under $300. Any usable cam is welcome

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/917722616108843009/1250710327625125888/IMG_20240613_170906_7.jpg?ex=666bee43&is=666a9cc3&hm=232b66304c5220c65780560a2aa96ec59f1f98088d784fca6f530957ac0dbef8& I think it might be cam time

I filled the oil pan up with Kerosene in my blue wagon, and cranked it to flush the oil galleries. Don't go crazy cranking it though.  

I'm going to assume it wouldn't be any issue for a few rotations but it would not build oil pressure as much maybe?   I'd consider running another flush through it firstly 

Just wondering would there be any harm in winding the engine over with no lifters. I'm thinking of pulling the lifters and cranking it with no plugs to clear any shit stuck in the oil galleys before cleaning the lifters an putting it back together. Im not sure if that might mess something up or if it would be ok

yes, i agree with this    as to what to do about it,  not sure., i've had them come good before so i'd be tempted to run it for a while and see how it goes. i always had spare engines back then so i wouldn't have cared much. 

I haven't pulled the lifters out but I had an idea on what could be wrong. This problem only started when I flushed and changed the oil. The motor was really sludgy before this and I was getting some funky readings out of cylinder 1. When cold it would be at 120 but when hot it would be at 150. So what I am wondering is could have the sludge have blocked up the lifters or the oil galleys and thus caused them to not properly pump up with oil thus having slack cylinders. This would explain why when I drive it hard it evens out because the oil pressure is up enough to pump up the lifters. What do you think, am I talking outta my ass?

In the interim, u could try making a 3 pronged removal tool, by flattening 3 pieces of welding rod, then twisting the three together into a cone shape. Thus creating a spring-loaded action, to lock the 3 prongs under the lifter edge?   Dunno if it'd work, just a random brainstorm idea I had.