Fine Tuning a 360 Magnum with a Brawler "Double Pumper"

So I ended up not doing anything on the carb on Monday as I got side tracked by working on my girlfriend’s pilot. I 100% do not recommend changing the cats on a 2007 pilot this has to be one of the worst experiences of my life lol.

Anyway, it’s probably a little late to ask this question but for measuring push rods, what’s a good amount of preload for them?

I have a tapping sound that very much sounds like valve noise (I’ve had 2 mechanics tell me the same). It slowly comes out on a cold start, it’s audible at idle and below 2000rpm or so, over that it goes away. Stethoscope on the head is where the sound is the loudest. So it’s either lifters or pushrods, I checked and retorqued the rockers to rule those out.

I did order 6.831” melling pushrods when I built the motor, one of the stock replacement sizes, but I think they may be too short but I’m not sure, hence the question.

I have an adjustable pushrod tool and a caliper, so when I measure them, you put the rod in, torque the rocker, and then extend it until it contacts the rocker, then measure and add preload? I think 0.030” is a pretty normal amount for these engines right?