[markjohnson]

You should probably replace those economy aluminum rocker arms with something better. They are NOT extruded aluminum or billet but a low-cost investment casting. You could also save some yourself quite a bit of hassle when it comes to lashing valves by losing the stud girdle. Sure, I know they're exotic-looking and neat to look at when the valve covers are off, but unless you have an .800 lift Pro Stock camshaft in that motor, they are just not needed in a cast-iron headed engine and complicate a valve lashing. Try it yourself sometime, loosen the girdle, lash a few valves, tighten the girdle back up and re-check the valves you just did and see how much they changed! Let me add this......please don't think I'm criticizing your car, I'm just trying to chime in with some good advise for when you re-assemble that motor. I've wasted a lot of good money over the years on parts that just don't work well and would like to think that I've learned a thing or two from that.