Valve to piston clearance

Find someone local that can show you how to degree your cam. Or pay a machine shop to do it. I bought a cam degree wheel kit and planned on learning to do it. I mocked my 360 up and couldn't figure out how to degree it. It didn't make any sense to me and I didn't know anyone that could do it. So I assembled it.

To make things worse I timed my engine wrong (long story). The engine spin over by hand no issue without the lifters pumped up (another stupid mistake). So I put it in the car and fired it up! It ran, and I even drove the car but it was REALLY low on power. Ended up having all of the intake valves hitting the pistons and eventually broke one and destroyed my new engine.

Whatever you do, make sure you have proper clearance.