AHHHHHHH>>>>
Well, it's been a while since I've had time to mess with this thing. I've used that time to assemble some parts and finally got around to pulling the motor. Might I add that engine tear-down on one of these little things only took me & Spanner1 like an hour or so, and that was including trips to the beer fridge.
The good news: cam & journals actually look great. Normal wear, and no signs of oil starvation. Didn't get a pic of the journals but here's the cam.
I did, however, find the source of the ticking noise.
The cam chain must have gone un-adjusted for some time and got stretched out and started flopping up against the side of the case. The tunnel on the cylinder looks similar. It also damaged the cam sprocket.
I'd already bought a "new" head that's in good shape and its matching cam, and had new valves installed and the seats cut. Also have a new cylinder, piston, rings etc that I'll be installing.
I guess what I'm wondering now is what to do about whatever residual aluminum flakes that may still be down there in the bottom end. After my first oil flush, where I found the aluminum, I'd replaced the oil and ridden it around some. Again, pulling 60+ mph in an effort to get the carb jetting right. Also, this motor had undoubtably been run for some time while the damage was occurring, and by looking at the cam & journals it had never been enough of an issue to block any oil passages or cause any wear. Finally, when I drained the oil the other night prior to pulling the engine, I didn't see any metal in it. So should I just put it all back together & go for it? Flush the bottom end with oil or diesel or something?