CI GS

worked for me!

Seriously though, it's all fine and well to use a precision tool for the job, but finding out how much preload is the "best" is like finding the holy grail. Everyone says a certain range, or a certain amount of turns, which equates to somewhere around a number expressed in terms of thousandths of an inch, but there seems to be no real ideal. At the end of the day, the stock GM LS lifter has a shitload of range, which I guess it needs for a mass produced engine line with a non-adjustable rocker system.
The other thing I've noticed is that some folks say that less preload is better to avoid valve float and some say the opposite. WTF?
And what really kicks me in the nuts is all this talk about rotating the engine every time that you need to check preload and torque each rocker down, because with a C6 with a frickin steering rack in the way, it is next to fuken impossible to get any sort of socket and breaker bar on the crank bolt, especially if you have an 8-rib IW with bolts sticking out the front of it like I do. I considered pulling the plugs out and taking the belt off to use a strap wrench on the balancer to turn it, but there wasn't enough space for that either.
So, I'm going to fess up right now: The way I did mine was that I picked two sets of rockers, one on each side, bumped the starter (which in and of itself is a challenge in a C6) until I got each rocker on those cylinders on base circle, and checked each of those, using the "number of turns" method (even though I have a plethora of pushrod length checkers and dial indicators stored away somewhere). Then when I was done, I tightened all of the rockers that were close to being on BC to 22 ft lbs. cranked the engine over several times and kept torquing rockers until they were all done. I am certain they are all properly tightened and I even backed some off and retorqued them again, just to be sure, so I'm sure that they're good (they've seen 6900+ rpm a few times since then, so if they weren't, I'd probably know by now).
If I followed comp instructions, I would've had to pull the damn rack out again, and there was no way in hell I was gonna do that to change rockers!
So, there: Yes, I rednecked my rocker install. And I don't have a friggin clue if it has the right amount of preload, because, well, I don't know what the hell that number is.
Here's a nice YT vid to add to the confusion:

CI GS

BTW, Carson, I think you may be right (again). I think that the ECS system tensioner would work on my car and will also give me more belt wrap around the balancer. I'm starting to wonder if that's where it's slipping anyhow, since the pulley on the IW is so smooth and shiny. Shiny stuff will do that **** sometimes...

realcanuk

I turn the engine by turning the blower pulley. Easy peasy!!

CI GS

Now why the phuque didn't I think of that?!

schpenxel

lol, I tried spinning mine with the alternator pulley once but it just spun

Haven't tried the blower pulley.. guess that is what I'll try though next time I need to turn it

I did figure out that with a perfectly size extension and crowfoot wrench you can get to the crank bolt.. but it's still a PITA.

I'll mess with it this afternoon when it warms up a bit. It was almost down to freezing this morning (after being like 80 a day or two ago, gah) and hasn't warmed up all that much yet

CI GS

I really don't like this canuk guy. He's just brimming full of good ideas...

schpenxel

Good deal.. yeah I really think it will fit.. whether it helps or not I'm not sure, but I think it has a shot at helping. Their tensioner is quite a bit stronger than the stock ones for sure

If you do end up getting their setup just be careful with the bolts that go into the timing cover. There's 1 or 2 bolts that go through the timing cover (replaces the timing cover bolts) and they're borderline too short. They work.. but if you tighten too much you'll strip the threads out (only engages 3-4 threads at best, longer bolt would make more sense IMO)

realcanuk

This time particularly easy because plugs were out but even with them in it turns no problem from blower.

CI GS

Damn you! Aargh!

schpenxel

Didn't get around to playing with car today

I did manage to upload a video of a fire next door at work (from Friday)... luckily I'm weird and had my drone with me so I flew into the smoke . No one was hurt or anything like that. Just some burning rubber that made a lot of smoke

I've got more but takes too long to upload

CI GS

schpenxel is a drone pilot!!!
I knew there was something fishy about that guy!
"Just some burning rubber that made a lot of smoke"?! That looks like John Force went full nuclear!

schpenxel

Somebody's gotta be the sketchy neighbor flying a drone around

I'm sure my neighbors hate this thing. It sounds like a pissed off swarm of bees

It's pretty neat to fly though.. can go 4-5 miles per battery, 4K video, etc.

CI GS

Someone's been flying one of those around in my neighbourhood too, so I've constructed myself a nice spud gun...

schpenxel

I'm surprised mine hasn't been shot down yet.. there's one neighbor in particular I try to stay away from for that very reason

CI GS

Carson, you get them covers yet? I just checked and it looks like it's out for delivery already!
Man, I wish they shipped that fast in the other direction.
Fingers crossed that they don't come with extra holes...

schpenxel

Oh wow, that was quick! I'll keep a look out for them today!

Really surprised they got here that quick, I hadn't even looked at the tracking yet because I thought it would be a few days at least

schpenxel

Delivered! I'm traveling today but the gf can get the box inside. I'll check it out tomorrow!

Unreal

Florida sucks. Not sure if I told you that, but just wanted to document it here.

schpenxel

Seems you've mentioned that a few times, lol

CI GS

Good stuff!