Chip,
I pre-adjusted the valved before the engine was fired. I wasn't around when it was fired the first half-dozen or so times. My uncle fired it first. Didn't notice the header leak until the exhaust was completed from the collectors back.
The cam is hydraulic - I set it the typical way. Set #1 piston's valves by adjusting the rocker arms to "zero lash" plus about 1/2 turn. I rotated the crank to #2 position and repeated. Did the same for each cylinder.
My first concerns are the leaky header and fixing the temp gauge. I'll change the oil Saturday and see if I can figure out the "hissing" sound that we hear when the engine is shut down after running a few minutes. Some people say that it's air in the system. It's most pronounced on the lifter side of the block. I'll figure all this out once the exhaust header problem is fixed.
-ftyler
