If the stamped serial number by the distributor confirms that it's a 54 truck engine, the only option available then was a solid lifter cam. Passenger car engines in front of Powerglide automatics were the only ones with hydraulics. Don't waste any more time turning the engine- - - -pull the cylinder head. You've either got a very rusty cylinder, some stuck valves, or both. I've spent untold hours on getting a sticky engine to finally make a full turn- - - -even got a few of them to run- - - -and still ended up doing a rebuild in the end. You might as well bite the bullet and cut to the chase!
Jerry
