Well here's my update. I found a set of stock stamped, vortec, self aligning rockers... yeaaa. Put them on last night, what a difference they look. Went through each one, examined the rod for bends (rolled on a granite flat) and all looks ok. Wnt one by one and did the ehaust / intake engine turn over another bit of a turn and adjusted each to 1/2 turn preload. Oh I also prelubed each rod and filled with oil after installing and lubed each rocker. Set the valve covers, timed it using the static timing and viola.... it's aliveee... well kinda... so I have a bunch of oil coming out my timing cover. Upon examination of that it's all bent up at each of the bolt locations, surprised it would seal at all so ordered a new one and will install it tomorrow. Meanwhile dumped the radiator, pulled everything up front (getting pretty good pulling harmonic balancers) and I'll drain the oil, drop the pan and she's ready to replace the timing cover. meanwhile she didn't sound to bad running. Ran her at about 2200 rpm for a minute. The more I learn, the less I know My other saying is "I listen to understand, not to respond" and there is a lot to listen to out here

Cheers... getting there...