Nice, thanks.

I used an overhead valve spring compressor but I was unable to compress the inner spring of the 3 springs.
Not using air I was able to spin the valve but when I used compressed air it would not move and the collar would not move down.

Plan B. I remembered I had some hydraulic lifters from an old engine.
I took the lifter apart and used 2 nuts inside to make it solid.
I compared the base height of the original lifter and my "solid" lifter and they seem the same.
With my pushrod length adjuster at 8.7" and marker on the valve tip, the resulting scrub mark was very close to the middle if not on the middle.
I am happy with that and will now check more.

I saw an old post on here with somebody who went to 8.7" and he got some long length Trick-Flow rockers studs, I think I will go that route.

The effective height of the rocker studs installed is 1.75".

Thanks everyone.