IH 304 Valve Noise

["Chuck Welles" <cfw3@domain.elided>]

Help!!!

I have an 80 Scout II which I transplanted the old diesel out of and 
replaced with a '77 304.  After a year with the new (used) gas engine, I 
rebuilt it because it began to make horrible lifter noise.  Anyhow, 
during the rebuild I replaced all of the lifters with new lifters from 
NAPA and had the valves ground (including the stems).  I did not replace 
the cam because it was a Comp Cam (installed by DPO) and an engine 
builder told me it looked fine and I left the original pushrods in it 
also. Anyhow, I put it back together and it has ran fine for the past 10 
months till now!!  Basically, It has the normal lifter tap/clacking at 
startup...but it never goes away!!!  I replaced two spongy lifters which 
cured the problem for a week but now it back again!! I am extremely 
frustrated and ready to junk the motor.  Anyhow, my plan now is to 
replace all lifters with new Comp Cam lifters, replace pushrods with new 
Sealed power rods, and shave about .030" off of the bottom of the 
aluminum rocker stands to shorten the distance between the rocker arms 
and the lifters - so that the lifter piston operates in a slightly 
different range.  

Does anyone have any ideas????  The only other possibility I can think 
of is that the engine builder ground down the valve stems too much---  I 
have tried to check the preload of the lifters but I have found it very 
difficult to do.  I can twist some of the rods fairly easily when 
everything is tight, but I cant get much up-down play at all - what I am 
thinking is that the lifters are at their maximum extension, and out of 
their proper operating range, thus causing them to prematurely fail.

Do you think it is wise to shorten the stands???  Any help would be 
greatly appreciated.

Thank You, Chuck Welles
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