[Greg Reimer 7376]

When stuff in the valve train starts going nuts in a Stock Eliminator setting,the first thing you want to do(besides check to make sure that the rocker arm slots are long enough),is to check spring tension. When RPM exceeds the ability of parts to follow each other, studs break, locks come out, valves hit stuff they were not designed to hit, springs go nuts, metal fragments appear around valve train parts, ceramic base lifters shatter with bad consequences,this stuff happens. I used to run a 283 7800 in high gear, never had a problem because I was just lucky,I guess. The 283 had light parts in it. Spring tension was around 125-140 on the seat, 275-300 over the nose.The exhaust valve in a 409 probably weighs close to twice the 283 weight. I would think that the intake would be way worse. That seemed to be the side of the engine you had problems with. I hope it didn't do any more damage to the engine than that.I think that I would start finding out what the big block guys are doing, then move in that direction. I don't remember turning a 409 anywhere near as tight as you do, they really were big torquers . A good 409 would work if you went into the house moving business,that's for sure.