Lifter preload...more or less?

I highly doubt this makes sense to most thinking, but I am struggling with a 5.7 hemi. What I ended up doing was using the pushrod length checker, starting with the zero lash measurement, then kept going until the valve opened. I was shocked to find the lifter opened the valve with only .139 difference. So if you can find out what that is for your brand lifter, you can find a safe point and not end up rounding off your cam lobe. Suggestion is usually .035 to .060. My case .060 wascloseto half, but I still get noise at temp.