[SFfiredog]

Hi Jon,
The greatest chance of valve to piston interference happens with the intake valve on overlap at about 20 to 50 degrees before top dead center. You can look down the spark plug hole and see it all happen. You should install some very light checking springs on #1 intake and exhaust valves, install the valvetrain, and rotate the motor to the point of minimum clearance. With a dial indicator on the spring retainer, push down by hand on the valve until it contacts the piston. Read the dial indicator and that will be your v to p clearance. Another way to check v to p is to put a piece of clay on top of the piston and rotate the motor thru one complete combustion cycle. Since you are using Edelbrock heads this might be the prefered method because E-brock moved the valves slightly when they designed their FE head. I ran across this concern on a 428 that I'm finishing up right now. The piston valve relief was deep enough, it just wasn't in the correct location for the valve. I ended up flycutting the intake valve relief and moving it over and up by .040". THe minimum v to p clearance you want is .100". If you check without the head gasket you can add .039 (if you are useing a Felpro #1020) to your total figure. (Felpro #1020 is, IIRC, .039") I really don't think you will have a clearance problem because your cam is smaller than the one I used. (.589 intake and exhaust lift w/248 deg. duration @.050)\
I think you will be fine but it alwayss pays to double-check.
See the enclosed photo for an idea of what the valve reliefs I cut look like.
Good luck,
--Mike