2 or 3 of the valves in my '72 455 do not have perfectly smooth valve tips (GA Heads with 2 inch intake valves, ~72k miles). No mushrooming of the tips at all, but what looks like thin scratches or striations in the machining of the tips. Can these be re-used if I polish them up? I can't really catch my fingernail on them, so I would think they would polish out without changing the overall valve length. I still haven't cleaned up the valves since I took them apart tonight. After I get them cleaned up, I'll post some pictures.

They don't look like wear marks to me, but perhaps defects in the valve stem, or foreign material that got between the rocker and the valve and created a couple scratches - except the rocker didn't have any scratches.

I'll be using an aftermarket hydraulic cam with new valve springs, retainers and seals.

 

When you face the valve on the valve grind machine, it has a attachment to face the stems also. Sounds like all you have to do is just touch the stone.

Gene

 

I'd worry about the valve guides before anything else you've listed. Reusing valves should be no problem if the stems are all within spec. The guides will determine the life of the valves.