Thanks Cab, I'm going to set them at .008 and let them rip figuring I gat another .004-.006 for "growth' from the aluminum heads. I used to set them at .010 I and .012 E to get .016/.018 and I just feel that's too loose for a 59 degrees, but that's probably fine for a big block (or anything with straighter geometry).

Something else I do is I run a hollow pushrod and (I presume) they fill with oil as the motor is running....so I think they have a little hydraulic dampening (shock absorpsion)...even if they are a little bit heavier, also any degree of lubrication passing through the pushrod hopefully aids in reducing the wear. i only turn it maybe 7200 max and everything seems sweet up there.