OK, so what you're saying is that the cam/rocker/puck are not holding the valve open, rather you have a gap when it should be fully closed.

When you pull the valve up, does it stop suddenly and still spin freely,or does it sort of bind and get difficult to spin? The former makes me think that (maybe) the guide has dropped down into the cylinder, although this would be highly unusual and I'm not sure that it's even possible. The latter would indcate a bent valve or maybe heat damage to the guide.

Does the guide stick up enoungh so the you can compare it to another guide?

__________________
Chuck Taylor
Falls Church VA
'66 200, '66 230SL, '96 SL500. Sold: '81 380SL, '86 300E, '72 250C, '95 C220, 3 '84 280SL's '90 420SEL, '72 280SE, '73 280C, '78 280SE, '70 280SL, '77 450SL, '85 380SL, '87 560SL, '85 380SL, '72 350SL, '96 S500 Coupe