[Walt Fricke]

Well, there is lift at the lobe, and then lift at the valve. I think the lift figures for cams usually arfe for lift at the valve (if they were at the lobe, the rocker ratio would put the coil spring in a bind). So you have the varying rocker ratio to contend with when making a graph.

Then you may have trouble finding a graph of a "stock" cam of any kind, or of a modified cam. I don't see that kind of information in anyone's catalog, nor for any large number of factory cams.

But max lift at the valve ought to tell you something. And you can measure duration, using several beginning and ending points, and see if those line up with anything,. I don't know what points the factory spec for duration uses.

I have the Stomski tool for inserting the clips. It helps, but doesn't make it really easy. And to remove them I had to make a tool out of a thin punch, carving a groove in its end so when the tool was rotated the clip raised up from the "hole" part and I could grab it with other tools. I eventually found all the ones which sprang out and onto the floor, though I have spares because at one go around I mangled some of them. I still don't understand why not a circlip.

I don't think you would have had issues if you had removed the heads as a unit on the cam carrier, though I know it is kind of a moment of truth as you tighten the last few head nuts, hoping the cam will free up some - as it usually does. My traveling chain hoist goes right over the engine stand (which is how the engine gets there), so I can use it to lift this rather heavy unit. Very handy.

But you aren't going to do that now, I see. Good reinforcement on that decision from others here.