I just recently pulled an 84 355 out of a 72 chevy truck. All I did was pull everything off but the crank and pistons. I cleaned the block and put all new gaskets on, and put a hydrulic 480 lift comp cam and lifters in it. I noticed when I put rocker arms back on that the top of the valve looked beat up and it wore a hole in the rocker arm."Not completely through." So I ground the top of the valve down to smooth it up and put a good rocker arm back on it. When I put it in the car and started it, there is a loud tapping noise coming from the rocker arm and I am getting a lot of blue smoke out of both mufflers. I can turn down the gas on the carb. but it still smokes really bad and sounds like it is loading up. If anyone has any comments I would really apprieciate it.

355, (name ??)
If the tip of the valve, and the rocker arm were "beat up" then there is several likely problems. Did you look at the old camshaft to see if there was a wiped lobe ?? If so, that may have caused the problem. A sticking valve can also cause it.
If you did not change the valve springs, there is a very good chance thay are coil binding with the .480 lift cam.
I do not know of any way to properly grind the end of a valve except to remove it from the head and put it in a valve grinding machine. Also, depending on how much you ground off, the rocker arm could be hitting the valve spring retainer.
Basically, you need to take the heads off and have them repaired and have new springs installed and set up properly for your camshaft.
That should get you started,

Grind the valve top-THATS A BIG NO-NO. The valve top has a very light hardened surface. Same as valve lifters and the cam shaft. Always try to have the parts checked by a machine shop-or you can purchase new parts!!! shortcuts never work..cost more in the long haul. graemlins/beers.gif