Rocker arm play

Hey that is how we learn sometimes LOL. There are a lot of parts stackups here: head machining, block deck height variation, head gasket, stamped rockers' tolerances, pushrods, lifter, cam..... the tightest thing on tolerance is the rocker shaft diameter.

BTW, is your cam a regrind by any chance? If it is, and the base circle was lowered in the grinding process, then that is a great source of extra slop in the cam-lifter-pushrod-rocker overall length.