lifter pre-load?

Confused... Are you actually finding out that the preload is .035 on intake and .055 on exhaust? Or is this what the builder is finding? Or is this what he is telling you to shoot for?

If the valve tips are truly all at the same height, you are still going to find variations in preload. But it makes no sense that they would all be one distinct number on the exhausts and another number on the intakes...unless the cam indeed has a different base circle exhaust vs. intake. ( I can't say I have ever looked for that....) They ought to randomly vary around an average. The variations would mainly be due to the rockers, the pushrod lengths, machined slopes on the decks and heads, and the lifters themselves.