Thanks Bill! So far it's not bad, but more problems arose when I tore it down. I think the 1.6 roller rockers were a bad choice, as I found 3 more lifters lunched again! I called Summit and told them I wa ending the whole set back, and they are sending me 16 new lifters.
I wanted to go to another brand, but it seeems that there are only a couple lifter makers that supply lifters to all the cam makers. Crane, Comp, Summit, and numerous others all use the same supplier.
I also found that the roller rockers damaged 3 valve stems, so took one head to Central Cylinder to have the 3 valves replaced. Two guide plates were also damaged, and I'm replacing all of them as they come in a set of 8. Hopefully the stock 1.5 rockers will cure the problems.
Got it all torn down today, ran the head to the shop, and got the new cam and front end reassembled. The head is supposed to be ready tomorrow, and I'll get it back together by Wed. the latest.

 

wow ive never seen 1.6's do that kind of damage. gramps has ahd 1.6s in the green pick for over 20 years and have never had a problem. it might just be the entire combo didnt work together.

 

I think it's a case of the 1.6 being roller rockers, and not stock type ends. Plus the high lift cam, plus, etc., etc. Like you said, might have been a combination of things. The new cam has less lift and duration, plus the stock rockers now. I'm till deciding if I'm reinstalling the long locknuts and stud girdles when it goes back in, or just use the stock nuts. It's a lot easier to adjust valves without the girdles, but they really do make the valvetrain much more ridgid.

 

Well I took the heads to a 2nd shop to get another opinion. They confirmed that the guides were cut too large from the get go. Decided to trade the aluminum heads in to the 2nd shop toward a set of old 2.02 camel humps. They had a freshly rebuilt pair with new guides, SS valves, hardened seats, new springs, and CC'd chambers. Cheap swap, and I feel better about the old school Chevy technology.
Got the new heads on with new rockers, and new head bolts. Just waiting for the brown truck to deliver the lifters and then I can finish assembly and break it in AGAIN.

 

looks good! you cant beat the ol 2.02 camel humps they are great head, got them on my 68 camaro

 

Brown truck just dropped off the new lifters and gaskets, so hopefully it will be breakin time tomorrow!

 

awsome!

 

I'll be interested how this motor turns out.

 

I think it will be a great low to midrange motor with this new cam and heads. Quite similar to what I think you're planning on your Camaro, except for the intake/carbs.

 

Got it back together today, and checked the timing by hitting the key. She fired right off, and I ran it up between 2500-3000, then shut it down. It is dinner time in our neighborhood, and I want to wait until tomorrow mid day to do the 20 min. breakin run.
It sounded very good, and no oil or water leaks. I do have to rework my alternator bracket, a these old head don't have accessory holes. No holes for temp gauge either, and my intake ha none also. I had to pull the plug in the water pump top outlet and install the temp pickup there.
Tomorrow is supposed to be nice weather, so I'll get a run in once the cam is broken in.