Shes alive an shes stayin alive!!

Any of the valves that hit pistons are junk. Do not try and re-use these. You also need to have a valve job done now.

Did you install a gear drive, or are you talking about a timing chain and gears. If it was the timing chain it does not matter if it is dot to dot or both dots on top. the only difference will be dist position.

I think you must of done something else, or...... dropped something down the intake.