Thanks guys!  Looks like I was way out, I set the lash at .024.  Will go back tonight and get them tightened up.  Its been so long since I started this project and I moved the car twice since then also so quite a bit of the paperwork has been lost.  Sorry I didnt include details but i'm running a Kent 276 Cam, with 1.3 roller tip rockers.  That should definitely get it to quiet down a bit.

Some time back I bought a Cam from KC which was a Russel grind. It came with all kinds of demands as to how it was to be installed and run. I had Newport Cutter Grinding make a tool to spot face cyl. head spring seats. I set up the closed spring pressures as required. I spent hours on engine stand with a 24 inch degree wheel adjusting valve lash to duration figures not clearance. We knew we would be running the engine one weekend then changing trannys. I broke in the cam and lifters ( kit included lifters, cam and springs ) with Brad Penn Oil then changed to a high zinc racing oil. At the end of one weekend of vintage the cam and lifters were crap. I paid to return them to UK for a check. The reply was I screwed up and no fault of theirs. So I had $500 for a kit $65 send it over and another $65 to find out nothing. That does not include the cost of having tool made and the time required to do valve adjustment. When I removed the tranny and looked into the engine I could not believe what I saw. I am now using Kent Cams, new billet cross drilled cams. The last regrind I installed failed in less than a year of service. Steve (CTR) 

I set my valve clearances to 0.016" based on Vizard's TASE advice. 

Tappet clearance ÷ std. rocker ratio (I used 1.25 as Vizard did) × roller tip ratio. 

In my case, my 997 cooper cam spec calls for 0.015" tappet clearance.  So, 0.015" ÷ 1.25 = 0.012" × 1.3 (roller tip) = 0.0156" valve clearance.

Now, thanks to Hunter2, I should go check GR's tech pages and learn a bit more...

Authi, besides the rockers you will also find that hotter cams will need another .001, 2 or 3.  I am running .016 with the Dodds 1.5 rockers and Elgin 003 cam.  No noise, lotsa torque.  When I moved it out from .012 I found a lot more intake noise with less pedal, which told me it was puling a good deal harder.  Idles better too.

You should google for your cam's valve lash, you'll find it.   

GR recommends that each rocker be set to provide the closest opening and closing periods across the valves (per lobe - intake and separately exhaust) to maximize the efficiency of the engine.  So the "lash" might be less on some valves and more on others.  SEE his technical information. 

Generally, 1.3 roller rockers are set the same as stock. 1.5s usually need an extra .003" to keep the same lifter to cam lobe clearance as a stock rocker.

Roller rockers are not an issue.. The clearance is more a matter of cam requirement and rocker ratio.....

Cheers, Ian

So a good point was brought up in a question I have on another post that i'm not sure what the correct answer is.  What should valve lash be set at with roller rockers?  Same as stock?  The engine makes alot more valve train noise than I remember but it has been close to 3 years since ive been under the hood of a running mini!

Thanks,