I just consulted my '96 Shop Manual, and right you are! Even 5.8! But, I knew for sure F-150s early '90s were flat tappet:
How you determined that '96 was non-HO, I dunno. Not sure even what "HO" meant. I thought it denoted different firing order, roller cam, bigger injectors (than, say, F-150 usage). I believe the early '90s F-150s also used the old, "standard" firing order, 15426378. Maybe even after '91.
Important point is that one must be cautious of little "flukes" causing serious heartache later. Who the hell, (myself included) would have thought one 5.0 distributor shoved into another 5.0 block could get it's gear ate? imp