So yesterday early evening after I picked up my mom and dropped her off at church, (shes 86 and doesn't drive after dark) I stopped at a friends house and just for shits and giggles I sized up my Crower rod against 2 different rods he had there. A Compstar H beam which had even more "meat" in the affected interference area than my Crower, and then sized my Crower up against a Howard's UD I beam rod and they were dam near identical. I knew then that I had a date with the belt sander. Hung out and chatted a bit til time to pick my mom up and take her back home. Got back to the shop and figured I had a couple hours so I changed out my belt and got busy making some "adjustments" to a couple of the rods. By midnight I had #3 and #7 like I wanted them and ready to go back in the block for a test fit. I'm right at .070" clearance, give or take a thou or 2 and I think I'm gonna live with that. I have had to do a few aluminum rodded 4.250 armed combos and always shot for .100" rod to cam lobe clearance in those cases and it always worked out. Hopefully being a good quality steel rod I can live with the .030 less clearance. I'm gonna try and get #4 and #8 taken care of Wednesday night, tonight (Monday) is house cleaning night and Tuesday and Thursday evenings I work on my buddies 65 Ranchero pro street build.
So anyway, progress being made, just a hiccup is all. And yes, I said belt sander, I learned a long time ago when doing rods I have way better control and do a way better job useing the outside radius edge of a belt sander than a carbide bur/cartridge roll and die grinder. Just the way I do it.
Thank everyone for you guys input. I always appreciate it.