valve adj. on engine while on engine stand before. start up

RustyRatRod said

Yeah, 1 to 1.5 turns down is too tight, IMO. I never go by the number of turns. I throw that out the window. I manually MEASURE preload.

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Once you start throwing aftermarket parts into the mix, that's the best way to do it. Considerations like lifter manufacturer, use of aluminum heads (which can "grow" when hot), etc. can affect the amount of preload you want to dial in.
For example, Rhoads publishes a good set of guidelines for initial set-up that illustrate the procedure and reasoning that applies to most lifter brands.