Dude makes you feel any better I was running a aluminator, with factory heads, and had a similar issue except shortblock was fine but BUT I had 2 valves one on driver and passgenger side that looked like yours and I also had 2 plugs that was screwed majorly. Oh and Grats on leaving your hood on while pulling the motor. I had to ditch my long tubes BBK and my hood to get my motor out.