As for the valve adjustment, I have done that myself about 1000 miles ago, when I dropped the motor in after the rebuild. It was my fourth valve adjustment, used the b18c1/c5 specs from the helms manual. I double and triple checked the clearance between the lobes and lifters and the torquing... I doubt I made a mistake there. I AM running FERREA valves, but that can't be it, since many of my friends have used them and passed w/o problems...