Advice? - cam gear issue and maybe badly out of sync

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The earlier thread ("Help with diagnosis?? ") outlined the breakdown. It ran fine onto and off trailers twice after I bought it and bit around the place, but it went down slowly (mile or two) as soon I got it up to speed on the highway.

Many good observations were posted, but suspecting timing chain slippage due to breakage of teeth on an original camshaft gear I uncovered that aspect. Although the PO said it had been replaced with a steel cam gear, the OEM fiber tooth gear is there, some teeth are broken, and the timing mark on the cam gear seems 180 degrees (well, maybe 179) off the TDC mark on the crankshaft gear - sure would have changed that gear beoroe running this truck if he had been truthful.

It looks like the cam gear is 180 degrees off because there is very good compression on #1 cyl coming up to TDC with the cam gear mark 180 off - BUT - am I coming up on exhaust stroke and getting comp because of bad valve action - or ??? There is no compression when both gear marks are coming up together, and did not seem to feel any suction on what would be the intake stroke before compression.

Have done all sorts of engine work on Chev/GM V8s but never on a 402 BB - so am wondering about possible cam/valve train damage. Does this engine have an interference fit - that is - will messed up cam timing cause bent push rods at least, and other possible problems beyond that? I could do a comp check on the other 7 cans to see if it is compressing in proper sequence, but hope to do something better.

Have you been here and determined the easiest/best way to insure sync? Is the only solution to undo the valve train, check/replace push rods as needed, and then sync the gears visually on #1 with everyting free? Or?

Questions ? Just ask. Thanks for any solid info and time/effort savers.