car4jim Jim we all want to help get your car back on the road. We also want to know if there is a problem with a part or parts in your motor from poor and bad machining. Do lifters go bad, YES. Do rocker arm bearings fail, YES. This way WE can stay on top of a problem and get help from whgo ever sells the parts. Companies also need feed back for their products and need to know if there is or could be a problem and how to fix it. Large companies call them RECALLS, small companies say send the damaged parts back to us and we will look at it.
WE all make mistakes building and assembling motors, even the pros. The jackass mechanic that works on my car is really out in space some times. We all use the same parts, does not matter who's name is on the box. Been told that there is only 2 US companies making lifters, or use the word assembly them. Not sure where the parts are coming from since this country has no steel mills left. Edelbrock has made and built in the US, not sure on this either for lifters.
If I sound ruff or hard in the thread, I'm SORRY. The truth took a while to come to the surface. There was a mistake made, thats it. we move forward, fix and repair. Just want to make sure no other damage happens to your motor.
If the dampeners are breaking in the heads, IMO there is something wrong with the valve spring binding or the dampeners binding under max lift. You could have gotten the correct outter springs and the wrong inner dampeners. It does happen. As far as changing valve springs or dampeners, KD sells a small valve spring compressor to do this in the car. All you need is an air compresssor or rope in the cylinder and rotate the crank shaft to TDC. This will keep the valves from dropping out of the headCheck the valve stem seals for damage also. If in doult, replace them. You are already there. Good luck will wait for the rest of the story. I am hoping for a book of new movie myself.
Rick L.