So i found the comp cams guide to checking valve clearance with hydraulic lifters and it requires you to make solid lifters and zero your valve lash. the reason my clearances were so small is because I haven't zeroed the lash for the test. I need to create an adjustable push-rod to check it more accurately.
@typ4 made me aware of this and recommended the guide. Here it is for those who area interested. It doesnt even say to torque down the heads just subtract the difference between a torqued and a non torqued head gasket from the clearance you measure.
http://www.compcams.com/v002/Instructions/Files/145.pdf
I only took of 7 thou from each head. I lapped the valves and am using a 10 thou thicker head gasket. I dont have extra push-rods right now to make a custom adjustable threaded push rod so I haven't decided if I am just going to hope for the best and put it together or wait a month to pick back up on finishing this project. I think plenty of people are running typ4 and R&D cams without ever checking their valve clearances because they didnt pull the engine.
It does seem that the way im doing the test brings the piston and valve as close as they could ever reasonably be if the hydraulic lifters locked up and did not have any spring to them. The clearance is so small that i cant tell if the valves are actually just hitting, i mean the playdough is actually transparent it has been smushed so much.
EDIT: Repeated experiment. All of the intake valves are too close and 1 of the exhaust valves. 3 of the exhaust valves are good.
Heres whats happening though, without zeroing the valve lash with the solid lifters the valves are opening sooner than they normally would and staying open longer. When you zero the valve lash it gives you a true range of motion. Without zeroing it the pistons appear to actually hit the intake valves, crush the clay, , and force the spring to compress more so i dont actually feel the contact. Ill measure how much it is in the morning but it is extremely thin.
I need to zero the valve lash with a custom pushrod or forget about this test. Its also comcerning that bronco and wes perform this test the same way but get legit clearances. I measured my deck to deck height and its in limits so my heads havent been over surfaced. Frustrating but im not going down this easy.
If i make a custom push rod ill order some new ones and cut 1 inch or so off two of the old ones, thread both sides and connect them with a barrel nut so i can adjust the push rod height and do the test the correct way.