Manuals, including GM's, say to use one full turn of the nut to set the lifter preload, but others choose to use less. If you read some of the many posts on thie preload issue, as I have, you'll see the settings guys use are all over the map.

Some as little at 1/16 turn, others to 1-1/4 turn and everything in between. In your case I'd stick with the GM recommendation of one full turn.

The main purpose - as I see it - of the procedure shown in the video was to keep from having to turn over the engine more than one time to prevent wiping off the moly lube wiped on the cam lobes/lifter bottoms.

That procedure, as well as a few other different ones, will work, but as I've written repeatedly, it's confusing. This is especially true when you start combining two different methods, like when you begin looking for the position of the TDC mark on the harmonic balancer, etc.

The KEY is that the lifter is riding on the base circle of the cam lobe when Zero lash is found and the preload amount is set, NOT where the piston is.

Don't feel bad though, seems that almost everyone gets as confused as you are. It looks so simple on the video yet when you actually begin doing it, the confusion sets in.

Rather than introduce yet another, different and simplier method that may end up confusing you even more, let me just say that for right now, anything between 1/2 turn and one full turn will work.

If after you've gotten to the point of giving up on getting it right, write me and I'll walk you through it step-by-step.

The reload setting isn't all that critical anywhere within that range. In fact, many, many guys use as little 1/4 turn. Personally, I use 3/4 turn.

Keep us posted.

Jake

 

The full turn is supposed to set the lifter plunger in the right location. In the middle of the travel in the lifter.
What I always do is:
1. pull rocker covers.
2. start with #1 exhaust, run through that bank, to exhaust #7. Then go to the other side, #2 to #8
I click the intake to where it is moving down, and the exhaust is seated. adjust the exhaust, click the intake to seated, then exhaust moving down, adjust intake.......and so on.
3. If there were any anomalies, I run through it again if necessary.
4. The running option I like best. adjust them while it's running. Can't go wrong here, except that without being able to just pull off a rocker cover, you remove the air conditioner and alternator/smog pump brackets twice.
not a fun job, but it's accurate.
There's always the oil mess, but with clips, it's very minimal.