440 ordeal continued

I thought that the lifters would only "fill the gap" also. That is what is strange. They are pumping up and holding the valve open. I have used a checking pushrod to get the right length pushrod. I have 3-4 threads showing under the rocker at 0 lash. Turning it over by hand, it has compression. With the pushrods out, it has major compression, enough to make the ratchet back up. Could it still be valves that are not seating?