Head gasket recommendations for magnum

schwinger said
No I just put the dial indicator on the lifter itself, not the center but top ridge of the lifter and measured how much lift by turning the engine over until I reached max lift then multiplied that to the rocker arm ratio of 1.6 which I’m pretty sure thats the ratio these magnum engines have unless I’m mistaken.

I'm trying to understand how you can measure piston valve clearance with just a dial indicator and measuring lift. I'm lost. How do you know the exhaust valve is hitting? Witness marks on the piston? Bent exhaust valve?

The best way to measure valve clearance is with clay on the piston, the valve train on and using the exact spring you are using. You can run as little as .040 on the intake and .070 on the exhaust.

Are you absolutely sure th cam is timed correctly? Did you actually degree the cam or just line up the dots?

I only ask for clarification and to understand. I still say something is hinky there. A piston .040 in the hole, a flat top at that and a relatively small cam and your hitting the exhaust valve. Wierd.