Ok cranking and starting without the cap on resulted in no spillage. Coolant level was right at the top when I did this too... so that's good.

Gonna check out the VFM now.

Any ideas why setting valve lash properly would make me lose my idle? The clearances were too tight before I set them correctly.

It should be noted that this thing ran awesome off idle - good power and the temp needle rock solid about a third of the way up the guage. Didn't seem to be consuming coolant either.