I'm trying to determine if I have the correct length pushrod. The intake is closed and the exhaust is just starting to open. The pushrod just barely spins. There is no up and down movement. Does this sound like it's the correct length?
Don't worry about the spinning deal. All you want to do is adjust the pushrod until it JUST removes any free play from the valve train .Than add in your desired 0.050 preload. You don't want to keep winding it down to the point where it starts pushing the lifter plunger down.
So if the pushrod measures 7.000 inch when you remove the free play , then you would order a 7.050 long pushrod. You can check all 4 corners of the engine if you like, if your worried about head and block surface machining being out of whack.
As far as checking the rocker to valve tip wipe pattern, well unless you have some way of adjusting your rocker height, then it's just a waste of time, because you won't be able to change it anyway.