thanks EB...i'll take a look at mine this weekend.

in my case, no valve job was done.

at a "tight" (meaning lots of drag on the feeler) .007/.010 (cold), they stay quiet. loosen them up to "normal" (a little drag) .007/.011, they *sometimes* make a louder, more distinct ticking sound.

(i've checked it out with a stethoscope and it definitely seems to be coming from the valves...seems to be loudest around cylinders 2 and 4...and a little louder on the exhaust side, but, as you said, the noises tend to telegraph, so i'm not sure.)

i was afraid to leave the exhaust valves at a tight .010, though, for fear of burning one.

if i find that the wear pattern on the valve tip does reach the edge, do i need to rebuild the whole top end?

my instinct is to just tighten 'em up a little bit and ignore the noise...is this a stupid thing to do? what possible disasters am i opening myself up to?

thanks again.