I posted a query about my V8 always starting on significantly less than
8 cylinders a long while ago and got a suggestion about lifters and oil pressure.Well, after extensive testing - ie starting it and watching the oil pressure gauge! - I can now categorically report that it is directly related to oil pressure - there is probably significant error in the gauge but as soon as it reaches at or around 20psi the thing takes off, every time. This would tally entirely with lifters pumping up as suggested. I'm not sure which sort I have fitted, perhaps lower leakage variety would solve the problem.
That's something for the future - it currently starts every time and it most definitely runs so I will not gut it's internals without due cause!