curious about valve lash setting/check

Notches always down and on your left as your facing them. If you bought them installed wrong, your probably ok as the shafts are pretty hard. As long as there aint 70k on them like that. I have not had stamped rockers since my early 351 Cleveland days ('89) and I never had a lifter preload issue using the 'spin' method. Maybe I got lucky.....
Pishta, I'm one of those worry warts, so I pulled out the receipts. engine work in 07, and found one receipt with axle work in early 08 showing 69K on mileage. it's at 76K now, so I'm feeling a little better. with that known.....I will sleep a little better :) thanks again for the help