[Gearhead999]

Dark_5.0, I think you should reread what you typed about piston to valve clearance having more to do with duration than lift.

Lift is the amount, distance, the valve opens.
Duration is the number of crankshaft degrees that the valve stays open.

The valves and the pistons need to clear one another at all times, with the engine in time. If the engine goes out of time, now that's a different story. As in jumped chain/belt, broke chain/belt or poor installation.