[blykins]

So he was using a dial indicator and checking springs? That's actually a good way of doing it.

You can either bolt the head on, leave the valve springs on, and run it through a few cycles....or you can put checking springs on, put a dial indicator on the retainer and check the clearance at different degrees by pushing the valve down until it contacts the piston and noting it. The method of doing it with the checking springs is great and easy.....but you can't tell how much radial clearance you have unless you clay it up.

When I assemble, I usually just use clay and run it through the cycles. If it's a hydraulic cam, I'll usually pop a solid lifter in it, or tighten the rocker up until it bottoms the plunger out on the hydraulic one.

If you have good springs, you won't have any valve float with a solid roller cam.