Chevrolet Repair: camshaft install 350 chevy, 350 chevy, valve rocker

Question
installed new cam using instructions with valve adjustment (exhaust open intake closed method). i'm sure i did it right but this method does not make sense to me. first of all, with the lifter(no preload) on the heel of the cam you add 1\2 a turn to the rocker nut which depresses the lifter plunger slightly. to me, when the lifter pumps up the valve will no close all the way. second, with the intake manifold off i rotate the motor and everything is smooth going. but this is without a pumped up lifter and the plunger depresses all the way down as the cam makes its lift. so when the lifter pumps up it looks like it may add about a 1\4 inch to the lift and the valve will not close all the way as stated previously. what can i do at this point before bolting it back together to make sure it is right? what i want to do is somehow load up the lifters and then turn over the motor to make sure there is no binding or banging. to me it would be easier if you put in a pumped up lifter and set it on the toe of the cam then turned down the nut x amount of times after zero lash. what should i do next? craig

Answer
Hi Craig, When you install new lifters and adjust the valves, you need to be carefull that you don't over tighten the rocker arm nut. With a new lifter the plunger will be very easy to compress. I tighten the nut down and rotate the push rod until I feel just a little tension on the push rod, now go 3/4 of a turn more.

Try this....
With the engine in the number 1 firing position, adjust the exhaust valves for cylinders number 1, 3, 4, and 8 and the intake valves for cylinders number 1, 2, 5, and 7.
Turn the valve rocker arm nut counter clockwise until the valve lash is felt in the valve pushrod.
Turn the valve rocker arm nut clockwise until all the valve lash is removed. Zero valve lash can be felt by moving the valve pushrod up and down between your thumb and forefinger until there is no more up and down movement of the valve push rod.
When all the valve lash is removed, then turn the valve rocker arm nut clockwise 3/4 of a turn.
   Turn the crankshaft clockwise 1 revolution until the alignment mark on the crankshaft balancer is aligned with the notch in the engine front cover tab.
   With the engine in the number 6 firing position, adjust the exhaust valves for cylinders number 2, 5, 6, and 7 and the intake valves for cylinders number 3, 4, 6, and 8.
Turn the valve rocker arm nut counter clockwise until the valve lash is felt in the valve pushrod.
Turn the valve rocker arm nut clockwise until all the valve lash is removed. Zero valve lash can be felt by moving the valve pushrod up and down between your thumb and forefinger until there is no more up and down movement of the valve push rod.
When all the valve lash is removed, then turn the valve rocker arm nut clockwise 3/4 of a turn.
   This should help you out. Not to worry if you get them to tight, the engine will just turn over with no compression and not bend a valve.

Hope this helps

Mark