[DAVID GAGNARD]

I use Play Doh to check the piston/valve clearance and have had no problems with it.........I always degree the cam first, then bolt on the head with NO gasket and run thru the cycle twice, remove head, check notch in Play Doh.........if the clearance is within specs, then you have extra clearance with the head gasket thickness..........

With all 8 exhaust valves hitting the pistons, it's obvious that the piston to valve clearance was NOT correct from the start and I'm suprised the motor lasted 400 miles.........

If the Pay Doh was all pushed out of the valve notch and you could see the valve after checking the clearance, then your builder screwed up big time!!!!!!!!! the whole purpose of the check is to see that what happened on your motor DOES NOT happen!!!!!!!!!!

The valve springs had nothing to do with the valves hitting the pistons.........

The failure was simply not enough piston to valve clearance on the exhaust valves, something any engine builder should have seen and corrected before going any futher with the assembly of the engine........

David