1 full turn of the bolt on the factory rocker is .079 of preload. You stated your at 1.25 turn now which is close to .100 preload.

I would shoot for .060 - .080 preload.

As for the valves, How do you know it's not the cam? You realise they use a different master between the intake and the exhaust lobes? That and the dressing of the grinding wheel in between could easily cause a variance like that.

 

Put a 7.425 PR in it.

 

This would give me 0.100 preload using the pushrod checker calculations.

6.8 + (10.50 turns X .050) = 7.325 + 0.100 = 7.425

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6.8 is the un-extended checker length

Each turn of the tool is 0.050 and I'm getting 10.5 turns

If 0.080 is the preferred preload?

Then 6.8 + (10.50 turns X .050) = 7.325 + 0.080 = 7.405

If the tool isn't lying and my zero lash finding skills,
with 40+ years of hotrodding are correct...

Most base circle cams under .600 lift use the OEM measurement, the heads haven't been surfaced nor the block, using a GM MLS head gasket, should not have altered the pushrod length IMO. Plus using the checker and double/triple checking the math... I'm confident I'm within spec.

I do appreciate the input guys!

 

The issue is most cam cutters won't give you the base circle of the cam. Comp sure as hell won't.

The only way to address the sewing machine noise is with the PR length.

 

I mentioned I had to add length earlier and I was wrong. I had to go down, not up in length
I just looked and I went with a 7.325 Length on my set up but the heads are also milled .025 .

At 7.350 I still had Noise and was around 1.250-1.50 full turn
7.325 put me at just around or under 1 full turn. I believe it was like 7/8 turn.