Since you have hydraulic lifters, then you have to make sure that the lifter is not 'soft' if you measure off of the pushrod with the valvetrain assmebled..... I do not know if this is the case or not. 'Soft' means the lifter is partially collapsing as you open the valve because of spring pressure working back on the lifter's hydraulic piston/plunger.
Is this because the roller lifters tip is not pushed down completely because the rockers arms are not installed? Would a better way of doing this be with the rocker arms attached and checking .050 lift off the valve retainer when rotating the motor?
