FbodTrek

Curious as to how you folks adjusted your rockers? I just followed the chiltons manual to a "T"... I'm curious as to how well their method is gonna work. I know on the V8 applications, it's best to just make a 1/2-3/4 turn past 0 lash. Chiltons called for a turn and a half on the 3.4...... Sounds a little much but, who knows. Thanx

TechSmurf

Describe exactly what you did according to the chilton's method called for, please. I've heard horror stories about how people have translated the chiltons method..

FbodTrek

Set cylinder 1 at 0 degrees:
Tighten the valves that are off lobe to 0 valve lash (twiting the rod between your fingers method)
After they're at 0 valve lash tighten 1 and 1/2 turns
Rotate crank to cylinder 4 at 0 degrees
Tighten valves that are off lobe to 0 lash (twisting rod)
After they're at 0 lash, tighten 1 and 1/2 turns

I'd tell you specifically which valves but, I don't have the manual in fronty of me. I followed the steps properly, trust me. Me and Sonar went and tried to start today, (It's turning over now, (thing wasn't in park )). Thats pretty much it....
To top it all off, i'm getting no compression (may just need to let the lifters pump up, idunno)

Dale

iTrader: (12)

I sent mine to the haynes manual, but just did about 3/4 turn more, but book said 1.5 turn more.

Nixon1

You're getting no compression? In which cylinders? If it doesn't even have compression, then there's a leak in there. Which is either the head gasket, or you've got improperly adjusted valves or one of them is hanging open. That's assuming zero or very low compression.

TechSmurf

Would that be the "till you feel drag on the pushrod" method or the "till the pushrod doesn't spin at all anymore" method?...

FbodTrek

You spin the pushrod between your fingers while slowly tightening the rocker nut. when it becomes unable to spin, its at 0 valve lash. As for it being a blown head gasket....I don't think soo. The motor had good compression in the car it came out of not 2 weeks ago. I think the lifters just need to pump up...I hope anyway. I'll get it running, just waiting for another mechanic friend of mine to get here, this guy knows more about our motors than anyone should know.

Nixon1

I'm sure it's possible..... Good luck anyway. I'm gonna have to do the same thing you're doing in about a week. I'm not looking forward to that process!

Doward

CORRECTION:

'You spin the pushrod between your fingers while slowly tightening the rocker nut. when it becomes unable to spin, its at 0 valve lash'

Nope.. You're well further than zero lash at that point! When you JUST start to feel a slight drag on the pushrod, THEN you are at zero lash.

FbodTrek

The difference is less than a degree of turn dude. between slight drag and unable to rotate that is. All the other mechanics I work with refer to it as either way. I don't think I over tightened them, if I did, Chiltons Manual is WAYYYY off. I usuallly count threads anyway, they were the same before I took them off as when I put them back on. I'm thinking the lifters just need to build pressure. Anyone who has done the intake should know the process (hook a man up!!!) lol. Hey Doward, hows the new turbo coming?
And, when you gonna get to the 3.4?

TechSmurf

The difference is the difference between compression and no compression.. and it can also be the difference between your motor running and wiping out a cam. If you tighten till you can't spin it, at least do the motor a favor and don't tighten it any further.

I have heard repeatedly that the Chilton's cam section is wayyyyyyyyyyyyy off.

The entire reason I asked which of the "spin the pushrod" methods you were using was ENTIRELY in prayer you didn't bring up a Chilton's manual, btw.

FbodTrek

You are right, it is WAY off. I yanked the valve covers today and readjusted, no valvetrain noise, didn't even use the manual. Compression is at 150-160 psi.....oh yeah

Nixon1

Ahh, right where it should be. Good job. The hell with manuals. Real mechanics do it on instinct.... Well, maybe not ALWAYS.....

I don't wanna steal the thread, but while there are all these pros reading this, I want to ask one quick question. Is it ok to tighten it PAST zero lash on my hydraulic roller 5.0? I asked a few people and one or two of them told me to set it past zero lash....something about "pre-loading" them?? I don't know....sounds odd to me. Especially since my motor hasn't even been running at zero lash..it's been a tad looser than zero lash.

FbodTrek

If so, just start her up, pull the valve covers and slowly tignten them down until you hear no tapping.... Most V8's have the ability to run with the covers off (ie, you didn't haave to remove the intake or something). The first motor I adjusted the rocker on was a Stang 5.0, it wasn't very hard. With the motor idling, it's pretty easy.

Nixon1

Yeah it's on the Mustang. Well the problem is I'm gonna have all 16 off....lol.. And I gotta set up all 16. Oh and I had to take the intake off to get the valvecovers.... I could get the passenger side off but the driver's side, the Cobra intake overhangs on it a little I think.