i am working engine details to figure out why the bugger is so hard to crank,, crank seems to move freely , will check crank end play tonight, but how do you measure the lift ,, of the cam , at the end of the push rod or at the end of the rocker arm?? i think i have a performance cam and If i do it out of there,,,for now!!!

Lift is measured at the lifter and generally reported at 0.050" lifter rise. You need a dial indicator and degree wheel to do it.

If you can stabilize the pushrod, you could measure it there.

If you measure it at the valve end of the rocker, you would have to take into account the ration built into the rocker.

The Haynes Manual will give you the opening and closing points of each valve.