Cummins NTC-444 Overhead

My first thought is that the accessory drive is not properly timed…or are you using the tdc mark instead of the a valve set mark. It seems like usually where people have problems with old 855 overhead setting its on the injectors but with it popping out the intake it sounds like you have valve issues You should be able to set the valves on 1 or 6 at a 2 or5 on b 3 or 4 on c
I would be tempted to back the injectors off a bit until you find the problem because having them set wrong often ends in things braking
@OLDSKOOLERnWV knows a lot more about these than I do…i don’t have much experience with the stc engines

 

Let’s start here….

Roll the accessory drive to “B”, make sure it’s on B.

Now check the valves on #3 & #4, which set of rockers are both loose, 3 or 4…?

 

I think that is for a n14 computer engine
I don’t think any of the mechanical ones set the valves and injectors on the same cylinder at a time

 

I thank your problem is you are trying to adjust your NTC to N14 specs. They both have an N. They are both 855 cubic inches, 14 liters

Yes. If you had trash in the socket on top of the cam roller arm. That is where the bottom of the push rod tubes sits into.
I went through this with hatchhero in PM but do not see how to share that. Actually thank that was on texting.
As said check your accessory drive timing. If it gets really hard to turn the engine doing adjustments stop. Something is wrong.

 

Big Cam is .011 on intake & .023 on exhaust.

N-14 is what you are showing…

 

The guy you have been talking to at Cummins probably wasn't even born yet when your engine came out.
A lot of of us here were around long before.
Use the chart @OLDSKOOLERnWV gave you.
.011 on intake & .023 on exhaust. and 0 lash on your top stop injectors.
Post some pics of the left side of the motor and valve covers if you want to verify.