Shimming old lifter to simulate preload for valvetrain setup

MOPAROFFICIAL said
And some of us understand what is necessary and what isn't.
Finding actual valve lift will determine how much coil bind cushion you have. Installed height is x, deduct actual lift at valve from x and you have y amount till coil bind at 1.100
1.57-.420=1.150 for instance.
Then check between coils with feeler gauge, .050 between each central spring coil is the min you need...and if you ever read any circle track mags.... the biggest name say to run the springs that way, the rest you can search up sometime.
Im running k motion 800's within .050 coil on my own stuff.

This is exactly why I need to do this. But lifter preload must be taken into account. My results will not be accurate if I don't shim the test lifter at preload height.

Won't I just be fully depressing the piston to the bottom of its stroke if I don't shim it?

And if I make it solid at the top of its stroke, than the solid pushrod I'm using to check lift will hold the valve open?

Thank you to everyone for your advice and help.

It takes a village to build an engine. Lol.

Thanks again. Eric