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#56307 02/10/2006 4:42 PM | Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 50 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 50 | I will be adjusting the valve lash soon and I'd just to check to make sure that I understand what I am doing.
So you crank the engine until cylinder #1 is at TDC and firing using the bolt on the harmonic balancer(engine is out of truck). Cylinder #1 is firing, when both valves are closed (lifters are at their highest point). You adjust the intake valves (larger valves when looking at bottom of the head, and in order, from either end are EIIEEIIEEIIE) for 1, 2, 4 and the exhaust valves for 1, 3, 5. When adjusting, you tighten the nuts until you start to feel drag, then turn the nut an additional ¾ turn.
When you adjust these valves, will all of their lifters be at their highest points? | | |
#56308 02/10/2006 4:48 PM | Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 1,067 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 1,067 | That would be true for hydraulic cams. Solid cams need to have their lash adjusted to a specified value and checked with a feeler gauge.
Another good way I've found to do valves is to adjust lash with the engine idling and the valve cover off. You loosen each valve until it becomes noisy, and then tighten them until the noise disappears. Not as scientific, but it's probably the easiest way.
52 GMC 3/4 ton pickup
68 Big Block Vette
68 455 Firebird
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#56309 02/11/2006 3:04 AM | Joined: Jan 1970 Posts: 365 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jan 1970 Posts: 365 | Actually, the lifters will be at their LOWEST point, that is, the base circle of the camshaft. I always adjusted hydraulic lifters by slowly tightening the nut with one hand while spinning the pushrod with the other hand. When you feel the pushrod start to drag, you are at zero lash-- there is no slack in the valve train but the valve has not yet began to open. Then you turn the nut an additional 1/2 to 3/4 turn. An easy way to remember which valves to set is to set the first three, skip one, set one, skip one and set one. Turn the engine over one revolution and do the same thing, only start from the opposite end of the engine. IF you are resetting valves on an engine that has been run before, bring the engine up to the TDC mark. Wiggle the rocker arms on each end of the engine. The loose ones are the ones to set, so you know which end to start on. If both ends are loose or tight, you'll have to pull the distributor cap to see which plug wire the rotor is pointing to to determine which cylinder is ready to fire. | | |
#56310 02/11/2006 7:49 AM | Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 50 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 50 | | | |
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