Hi guys, thanks all for your input! I'm leaning towards buying checker valves. It will be a good exercise and I suppose it will give me a closer result. I realise that the difference in push rod size may be too little to cause major damage, but I like to do these things by the book.

Before doing the test, would you recommend soaking the lifters in oil? I've also seen some different opinions on that.

@ 36 sedan: would you have a link to the push rod checker that you mean? I only know the ones where a full turn is usually .05 inch.

I'll make sure to make some photo's next time I'm at my brother's.