[Marshy]

Originally Posted by LongBox

If you disconnect the coil wire, then crank the engine, does it sound normal? If it does, I'd then do a compression test to see if the piston and valve action is correct.

If all that pans out, you might want to try starting it with the rocker covers off, to see if oil is getting up to the top, and isolate any sounds.

If you are the really careful type, you'll disassemble the engine, and check everything, including the stuff mentioned above. This is the slow, but possibly cheapest way to go.

I second this advice. I would pull all the spark plugs and inspect them then crank it over and listen for noise. I suspect you will hear it. If you don't, I would do a comp check, put the plugs back in and start/run it with the valve covers off but damn, something is getting the snot hammered out of it.

What did you all have done to the heads? If he cut the valve seats did he shorten the stems too? Did he deck the heads, how much? What is your quench distance? What pistons are you running, flat/dished/dome?