Did I set valve lash correctly?
#1
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Did I set valve lash correctly?
Just installed a set of guideplates and pushrods on my new engine.
The way I went about this is to do one cylinder at a time. Once the guideplate and pushrods were installed, I adjusted the rocker just a little more than the original setting. I fired the engine up, and backed each rocker off until I could hear a loud ticking. This was the tricky part, since my exhaust is a bit on the loud side.
To help with listening, I chocked the wheels, put the e-brake on, and put the car in drive. With the rpm drop, I could hear the noise more easily.
So, once the rocker started ticking, I slowly adjusted until the noise went away. At this point, I gave 1/4 turn more. I shut the engine off, and repeated the procedure for each remaing cylinder.
My only concern is that if you get really close to the rockers, you can hear a slight ticking from each one. Each rocker definitely gave a loud ticking when loose, and became quiet once adjusted, except for the faint ticking noise. Is this very slight noise normal?
The noise can't be heard with the valve cover on, or from inside the car. I went out for a drive, and made numerous runs with rpms in the 5500 range. The engine seemed to run smooth, and I did manage 0-60 in 5.2 seconds with my G-Tech.
So, am I worrying about nothing?
[Modified by shotgun_000, 5:37 PM 12/22/2002]
The way I went about this is to do one cylinder at a time. Once the guideplate and pushrods were installed, I adjusted the rocker just a little more than the original setting. I fired the engine up, and backed each rocker off until I could hear a loud ticking. This was the tricky part, since my exhaust is a bit on the loud side.
To help with listening, I chocked the wheels, put the e-brake on, and put the car in drive. With the rpm drop, I could hear the noise more easily.
So, once the rocker started ticking, I slowly adjusted until the noise went away. At this point, I gave 1/4 turn more. I shut the engine off, and repeated the procedure for each remaing cylinder.
My only concern is that if you get really close to the rockers, you can hear a slight ticking from each one. Each rocker definitely gave a loud ticking when loose, and became quiet once adjusted, except for the faint ticking noise. Is this very slight noise normal?
The noise can't be heard with the valve cover on, or from inside the car. I went out for a drive, and made numerous runs with rpms in the 5500 range. The engine seemed to run smooth, and I did manage 0-60 in 5.2 seconds with my G-Tech.
So, am I worrying about nothing?
[Modified by shotgun_000, 5:37 PM 12/22/2002]
#2
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Re: Did I set valve lash correctly? (shotgun_000)
hmmmm I would hope that you are talking about doing hydraulic lifters here... if they are solids you need to warm it up and then use a feeler gauge. :hat
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Re: Did I set valve lash correctly? (VetteLS6)
hmmmm I would hope that you are talking about doing hydraulic lifters here... if they are solids you need to warm it up and then use a feeler gauge. :hat
#6
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Re: Did I set valve lash correctly? (BB wowbagger)
Hydrolic Lifters will always make alittle noise as the inner spool bottoms out as it squirts oil. I don't know how loud you are talking about but it should be fine if you did it like you said.
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Re: Did I set valve lash correctly? (BB wowbagger)
I would give it a 1/2 a turn instead of the 1/4.. :cheers:
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Re: Did I set valve lash correctly? (BB wowbagger)
This is just my $0.02, but I've had better luck with 1/4 turn on small block chevy's. With 1/2 turn, I've had some valves open too soon on a big cam and cause a backfire. Backed 'em off to 1/4 turn and the problem went away. They may be a little noiser, but without those intermittent Bangs and flames up through the carb I like them a lot better. I've known guys with "too much" compression to actually leave a little lash, even with hydraulic lifters, to reduce the intake duration a bit. Sounds bad, but ran fine.
[Modified by lyonsh, 12:54 AM 12/24/2002]
[Modified by lyonsh, 12:54 AM 12/24/2002]