The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Valve assembly diagram

Does anyone have a detailed parts diagram showing a typical intake and exhaust valve. I took pictures the best I could while assembled but want to make sure I don't miss anything or get in the wrong order.

Figure 16 on page 6-12 of the Shop Manual is pretty good: Valve Seal, Cap and Locks Installation Diagram. Figure 18 on the same page shows the rocker assembly - 4 distinct parts, 3 of each, left and right intake and exhaust - that have to be assembled in the correct order on the rocker shaft.

I've seen that picture but thanks did reminding me of it.. One thing I need more detail is there are so really thin washers below the valve spring (I think) and half of the caps on the valve spring that hold the retainers can spin..

Sounds like what you are describing are shims below the valve spring that may have been used to set the correct closed-valve spring height/tension after the valve seats were recessed some time in the past. The shims may or may not be all the same thickness. Check for correct spring height... that should correct the loose caps if the springs are the correct free length, as they should have a minimum closed tension of 55lb, +/-, higher for newer 235s and 261s. This table may help, from Pre '68 Dave's blog: Valve Spring Pressures and Installed Heights.

From either end of the head, the valves are:
Ex In In Ex Ex In In Ex Ex In In Ex

I just assembled some this weekend!
It was too tough to use those pictures alone. Many rockers have numbers on them, that's what unlocked the secret for me.

I found out from this thread:
https://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/257275/

Rear RE LI RI LE RE LI RI LE RE LI RI LE Front
Rear 8, 5, 6, 7, 8, 5, 6, 7, 8, 5, 6, 7 Front

Note: my old rockers had an extra 8 in front of all those numbers.