after doing my valves without the motor running, they came out pretty good. but i need to adjust a little more so i will do it will running. how much of a turn do you make on the rocker after it stops making a tapping noise?

 

Go with a 1/4 turn and "see" how it sounds. No clack and you'll be good to go.
Some like to go more, like a 1/2 turn, but more isn't always necessarily better.
Are you using the oil deflectors, and/or a cut top valve cover? Without something in place, you'll have a terrible mess.
I've done it using the deflectors only, and it still made a big oily mess.

 

Some lifters make noise by design like Rhodes. Make sure your brand is supposed to be quiet or not.

How did you find 0 lash? Did you use the twist method or the correct way by feeling if there is any up and down movement of the pushrod? If you did the twist method you may have all sorts of different valve settings. When you twist them too many things come into play to cause them to stop twisting, like amount of oil in the pockets, polish on the ends of the rod, stuff like that.

I have always had good luck with flat tappets in CSB by finding 0 lash on the flat of the cam (ie that cylinder at TDC compression stroke) and then turning 3/4 of a turn. Of 6 CSB engines I have built, only one needed a different setting due to the lifter design and manufacture's instructions.

Massey

 

I try not to adjust them running. I've had great success adjusting them static by just taking up the slack and wiggling the rocker are side to side until there's zero play. I generally use the 90 degree method. Start with engine at TDC and adj. all valves that are fully closed, then turn it 90 degrees and adj. all valves that are closed, and another 90 degrees and adj. until you get back to TDC on #1 again.
Just finished rebuilding the top end on a 350 for a friend's '56 Chev and it didn't need any more adj. after we did the breakin time. Works for me anyway.