Anyone with suggestions for turning it over by hand so I can set the valves? I used to just use the fan blades and turn it over before the rebuild, but it won't budge now! The motor is in the truck, all spark plugs are out, I've primed the oil. I just have to set the valves, check initial timing and hook up all the electrical and I can start it up for break-in.
If you've got room to do it, put the transmission in high gear and roll the truck forward gently to advance the engine to top dead center for the next cylinder. I just grab a front wheel and rock it forward a little at a time while I watch the rocker arms. Another way is to use a long screwdriver or a pry bar between the firewall and the start pedal linkage. Make quick taps of the link to bump the starter over a little at a time. 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!
Some (not all) late model 235 dampers will accept a 3/4" drive ratchet or extension. That's IF there's enough room between the damper and the radiator to turn a wrench. 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!
I installed my battery and hooked up the wiring so the starter could bump it over. That worked well enough to use the Companion method of valve adjustment and I got it done. Thank you for the suggestions Gents!
I have used a remote start switch, just connect it to starter motor and your battery. You can usually find one at most auto parts stores, I think it was less than $20.00.
~ Craig 1958 Viking 4400 "The Book of Thor" Read the story in the DITY 1960 Chevrolet C10 "A Family Heirloom" Follow the story in the DITY Gallery '59 Apache 31, 327 V8 (0.030 over), Muncie M20 4 Speed, GM 10 Bolt Rear... long term project (30 years and counting)
If you don't like driving yourTruck, you won't drive yourTruck..| Living life in the SLOW lane
I haven't found a remote start switch that can push the pedal on a stovebolt six foot starter yet. If you're using a solenoid type starter from a car, that's a different discussion. 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!
I pull all the spark plugs first, then the distributor cap, install Thexton. Since I tapped the end of the crank with a retaining bolt, it is easy to rotate the crank and adjust the intake and exhaust of the same cylinder when the rotor is pointing right on the cylinder firing order on the Thexton.
Last edited by sstock; 08/20/20191:33 PM.
1953 Chevrolet 3100 261 cu inch, sm420, 3.55 rear, torque tube still,omaha orange, still 6 volt, RPO green glass, side carrier spare, all done In the DITY Gallery Video of the 261 running
1964 GMC 1000 305 Big Block V6, sm420, the next cab off restoration
I pull all the spark plugs first, then the distributor cap, install Thexton. Since I tapped the end of the crank with a retaining bolt, it is easy to rotate the crank and adjust the intake and exhaust of the same cylinder when the rotor is pointing right on the cylinder firing order on the Thexton.
Shade tree trick- - - - -if you can find a bottle of "white-out" that's not dried up, put a dab on the distributor housing by each spark plug wire tower- - - -it does the same thing as that Thexton tool, at no cost. A sharpie mark works, for those of you too young to remember what white-out was used for!
After the blond secretary finished using the computer, there used to be white-out all over the monitor screen! 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!
Put the 2 bolts in the harmonic balancer that you use for removing it. Then use your pry bar to turn it over
Works great if you dont have a fan installed otherwise a knuckle buster.
1953 Chevrolet 3100 261 cu inch, sm420, 3.55 rear, torque tube still,omaha orange, still 6 volt, RPO green glass, side carrier spare, all done In the DITY Gallery Video of the 261 running
1964 GMC 1000 305 Big Block V6, sm420, the next cab off restoration
I use a long screwdriver or a short pry bar between the cab and the pedal linkage to bump the starter during a valve adjustment. 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!
I use a long screwdriver or a short pry bar between the cab and the pedal linkage to bump the starter during a valve adjustment. Jerry
One of these days, I am going to apply myself and design and fabricate a handy pry tool which captures just the big lever which parallels the toe board so that I don't scratch the paint off the toe board with my pry bar.
1952 5-window - return to "as built" condition | 1950 3100 with a 235 and a T-5 transmission
Slip a short piece of heater hose over the end of the pry bar- - - - -problem solved! 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!
I need something to keep me off the street. Do your civic duty and allow me to make something which takes a fair amount of time to create. Society, in general, will greatly benefit.
1952 5-window - return to "as built" condition | 1950 3100 with a 235 and a T-5 transmission
