i have a 74 stingray, 454. all stock. car only has 35k. i just replaced all valve seals with heads still on the car...not fun. anyway, i adjusted the rocker arms just as anyone else would for solid lifters, but i couldn't find a specific spec for the tollerance. so i took the safe road and set all of the rockers at .019, cold mind you. replaced spark plugs and wires. plugs are factory replacements, same part number r44t i believe, so no gapping was needed. i did not need to assemble the plug wires so there's no problems there. i go to fire it up and i get nothing but misfires and exhaust popping throughout the rpm range. i tried my best to get the engine to warm up to operating temp without blowing anything up and then i adjusted the valves again back to .020, but still same problem with horrible running. any suggestions?

 

My best guess is check your firing order, 18436572, and timing.