Can you install custom fit guides to fit the slender stems? How challenging would that be?

I looked in the parts listing for intake/exhaust valves and saw different parts numbers for the 826/833 and the 840/845 engines. That leads me to believe that heftier valves were used for the larger engines. Perhaps what Kanter/Max provided you were valves for the standard 8. I'd suggest you get on the horn with them and see if they supplied you with the right part. Seems a tad too small.

My suspicion is the coating used a few years ago is degrading. Try siphoning some gas out of the tank and see if you have junk floating around in it.

I recently had a brake and clutch master cylinder re-sleeved for an MGA, and the guidance I received back from Apple Hydraulics was to not use silicone as it was unknown whether the rubber parts/seals are incompatible with silicone.

When and where will the swap meet be?

On my 31, I put the tire on it, chocked it with a cinderblock, then torqued the nut to 200 lbs, then rotated to the next passage on the castle nut. Need to check it again soon.

Perhaps try some Purple Power and see if it dissolves or soften the rubber or glue. What I would do is leave a rag soaked in PP on the rubber for a day or so and see if it produces a reaction, either turning the rubber to a gelatinous muck that can be easily scraped off or loosening the glue so the rubber can be pulled off less a hammer and chisel. If it works, fashion a way to soak the boards directly in it. Underlying metal won't be affected. Purple Power works so good as a stripper/degreaser that it'll probably be illegal next year. Be sure to use gloves, cause PP isn't kind on skin.

Many thanks for everyone's comments. Turns out I was missing the stamp steel ring that interplays with the shifter ball to produce the desired shift pattern. Thanks all!

Many thanks for everyone's comments. Turns out I was missing the stamp steel ring that interplays with the shifter ball to produce the desired shift pattern. Thanks all!

My holes on my waterjacket were either 1/2 or 5/8". No problems here. That was for a 31 Standard 8.