I just installed the new metal secondary tensioner on the right bank. Now I am trying to bolt the camshaft back down. It does not seem to want to go back down. The second last cam lobes are bringing up against the tappet buckets. Do I just go through the ritual of methodically re-installing the cam caps and it will eventually draw the camshaft down?

 

It will draw down. Tighten them evenly just a bit at a time.

To avoid this problem when you do the other side, it is best to rotate the engine before removing the cam (from the bolt on the crankshaft harmonic balancer) so there is minimum pressure on each of the tappet buckets.