Need procedure for valve adjustment for a 261 with hydraulic lifters. I've been trying to figure out what this engine came out of. 3769925 block # which shows 58-62 truck. L 21 5 which shows Dec. 21 1955. I'm thinking hydraulic lifters were only in Canadian Pontiac cars. Ideas on valve adjustment? DaveV
Truck 261's had solid lifter cams from the factory. What makes you think it's got as hydraulic cam in it? Prying on the rocker arm for a few minutes with the valves closed will cause a hydraulic lifter to collapse, which is the only way short of disassembly to know for sure.
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
Follow the service manual adjustment procedure for adjusting 235 hydraulics.
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
Interestingly enough, Thexton made a little tool that you installed on the distributor to assist you in locating tdc for each cylinder to make adjusting the hydraulic valves easier.
Just move the motor until the rotor is pointing at the no.1 cylinder, then adjust, then move to no. 5, then adjust, and so on. Every once in a while one of these turns up on eBay.
Hmmmm- - - - -sort of like a sharpie mark on the distributor housing, huh?
LOL! Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
There is a way to adjust all of the valves with the engine in only 2 positions. I can't remember exactly how it goes, but this is the basics: At TDC #1 adjust both valves for #1. Adjust one intake or one exhaust each for 2-5. Rotate engine 1 complete revolution until TDC #6. Adjust both valves for #6 and the remaining valves for 2-5.
I will look that up. Probably been posted in this forum sometime in the past.
I found this tech tip by Ole, but I have trouble understanding it. https://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/valveadjustment.htm His comments about adjusting the valves when wide open confuses me. It's based on the same idea of adjusting all valves from 2 positions of the crank.
Maybe taking them in order 1-5-3-6-2-4 is easier...
Last edited by Frank50; 11/19/201810:17 PM. Reason: found tech tip
HrL uses a technique that might be a little better - I think you have to do 6 alignment movements. Maybe he will post a link to the thread in which he describes his technique.
My technique has worked fine for me for over two decades.
Just do a forum search for "companion cylinder valve adjustment". It works the same way for all stovebolt valves, with either solid or hydraulic lifters. Ditto for any V8 with adjustable valve gear. Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
