Originally Posted by waybomb

Yikes! I believe the above procedure is for fully pumped up lifters. If you aren't sure they are pumped up, you could put your valvetrain in a bind and break something.

Here's a better way.

On the base line, as done above, tighten the rocker until the pushrod displaces the lifter plunger to about half of its travel. To find the travel of your particular lifter, compress the piston to the bottomed out point. Then back off halfway.

USE GM EOS assembly lube on non-roller lifter engines!!!!! One 16 oz can per 5 quarts of oil. Make sure you also generously apply assembly lube to the cam lobes and lifters.

THIS IS CRITICAL!. ZDDP has all but been removed from conventional gas engine oil to protect the catcon. ZDDP is what intimately protects wiped surfaces in your engine - lifters and cam lobes. Then use DELO400 or other diesel engine oil as the lubricant. It still has a decent amount of ZDDP is it.