Quote:

Put a test spring on the intake and the exhaust and
test your own set up... use a dial indicator and at full
lift push down on the rocker and measure the distance




Ahhh. You know better than this. Measuring at full lift won't yield results. The piston will be half way down the hole. He needs to measure 10 to 20 degrees before top dead center for the opening of the intake valve and 10 to 20 degrees after top dead center for the closing of the exhaust valve. Valve to piston clearance is only a concern during a 40 degree swing through overlap.

Here's another option that requires almost no tools. But, only works for flat top pistons. Take a CD or two and set it on top of the piston. A typical compact disc is .060" thick. So two CDs will equal .120". Now reassemble the engine, set lash at zero, and turn it over by hand nice and slow. If it stops then the valves are too close. Some trimming of the CD may be necessary to clear the quench area.