How do you adjust valves?
Pro
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 515
Likes: 0
From: IL
Re: How do you adjust valves? (Road Racer)
This is in the tech tips section https://www.corvetteforum.com/techti...=116&TopicID=3
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,645
Likes: 11
From: Schaumburg IL
Re: How do you adjust valves? (Road Racer)
Not neatly no matter what clips or blocks on the oil flow from the pushrods. If you want to try it, get the plugs from NAPA or like store.
Slowly back off each rocker arm nut until you hear the lifter clacking.
Slowly tighen the nut downuntil the clacking stops. This is zero lash.
Tighten the nut an additional 1/4 to 1/2 turn based upon your lifter type.
The problem I have is the exhaust noise, fan noise etc makes it real hard to hear the lifters accurately. Adjusting cold to zero lash when the lifter is on the base circle of the cam + 1/4 or 1/2 sets them nicely - no oil spills.
Slowly back off each rocker arm nut until you hear the lifter clacking.
Slowly tighen the nut downuntil the clacking stops. This is zero lash.
Tighten the nut an additional 1/4 to 1/2 turn based upon your lifter type.
The problem I have is the exhaust noise, fan noise etc makes it real hard to hear the lifters accurately. Adjusting cold to zero lash when the lifter is on the base circle of the cam + 1/4 or 1/2 sets them nicely - no oil spills.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 3,631
Likes: 14
From: Fountain Hills AZ
Re: How do you adjust valves? (Road Racer)
It's a good idea to do a static adjustment once you've reassembled everything even if you plan on making the final adjustment while running. If one or more of the valves are far out of adjustment at start up, something could get damaged before you get it corrected. Millions of engines have lived long and happy lives without their valves ever being re-adjusted after the initial static adjustment at the factory. For maximum performance and reliabilty, I still prefer adjusting them while running afterwards. Besides using the clips already mentioned to lessen the mess, you can get an old valve cover from a wrecking yard for a couple bucks and cut the top off so oil doesn't run off of the heads while adjusting. Another thing I've found helpful is to set the idle as low as possible for the adjustment. Besides reducing the amount of oil that is being squirted, and it's pressure, there will be less time between "clacking" and it'll be easier to identify which valve is making noise.
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
From: Tacoma WA
Re: How do you adjust valves? (Vetterodder)
i do the old valve cover trick too, but i didnt cut the entire top off. I took a hole saw, just larger than the outer diameter of my socket, measured off the locations of the rockers and popped a few holes. works like a charm, and i can wear a white shirt to adjust my valves running. :smash:
