Valve clearances

[JHFORD51]

I have a stock 8BA engine that I am overhauling (8BA cam, NOS Ford solid lifters, non rotator valves and misc parts). Is it ok to just grind intake and exhaust valves to 0.013 to 0.014 clearance, cold?

My ford manuals give one range for pre-48, another for early 49, and something different for late 49 to 50. Later printings of Ford manuals include late 49 to 53, giving no difference in clearance for the rotator setup vs the non rotator set up. Then there's the aftermarket bunch who sort of have their own take on clearances as well. Iskanderain recommends 0.014 I believe....

0.017 to 0.019 is the Ford recommendation for the EX valves from late 1949 to 1952, per the specs in my f series shop manual. This seems excessive when the same parts from early 1949 (also used through late 1950, non rotator) call for 0.014 to 0.016....

Thanks in advance.

[Russ/40]

The most agreed upon of the aggressive approach is .012 intake and .014 exhaust. Never heard of any damage over time with those numbers. Ford valves pretty much hold their lash numbers almost forever, so no worry of them getting too tight. JMHO

[V8COOPMAN]

And don't forget that effectively, duration (and lift) will increase as the clearances become tighter....definitely NOT to be confused with "effective duration" (Google it)! DD

[JHFORD51]

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Ok, thanks