Valve adjustment question, please help!

[jemsoccer]

Standing in my garage, and this is the only thing keeping me from dropping the motor back in the boat (yes I know I can do this in the boat, but I'd like to do it now while I can still rotate the crank by hand).

I adjusted the valves using both the info off this site and from the manual (which say the same thing), and I have the following question:

Is it correct to have No.1 and No.4 I (Intake) and E (Exhaust) tight all the time, but No.2 E and No.3 I loose (lots of lash) when TDC firing No.1 and No.2 I and No.2 E loose 360* past that? I'm assuming no. So what am I doing wrong?

It seems like No2 and No3 are not really on the lowest point of the cam at these points.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Valve adjustment question, please help!

Is it correct to have No.1 and No.4 I (Intake) and E (Exhaust) tight all the time,

Ayuh,... None of 'em should be Tight, ALL the time....

Each cylinder is at a different point of it's cycle when another is at TDC....

 

[Don S]

Re: Valve adjustment question, please help!

You need to have the engine up on #1 TDC on the compression stroke, my guess is you are 1 turn of the crankshaft off.
When you line up the timing marks and are turning the crankshaft and coming up on aligning the marks, the valves on #4 should be rocking (1 open, 1 closing) as you pass the timing marks. The valves on #1 should be stationary and not moving.
If they are opposite, you are 1 turn off on the crank.
If you had the timing marks on the cam and the crank lined up. That is NOT #1 TDC on the compression stroke,

 

[jemsoccer]

Re: Valve adjustment question, please help!

Just to double check, with No.1 TDC, I align the cam and crank sprockets (the dots), correct?

If so, those should be correct, and I am using the '0' mark and the pulley mark to find TDC. I did check to see that I was on the compression stroke for No.1 as per the instructions in the manual and as you just stated. I will go double check again.

So there should be a point where all of the push rods are able to be moved up and down?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Valve adjustment question, please help!

with No.1 TDC, I align the cam and crank sprockets (the dots), correct?

NO,... Cam, to Crank indexing has NOTHING to do with #1 at TDC....

 

[jemsoccer]

Re: Valve adjustment question, please help!

NO,... Cam, to Crank indexing has NOTHING to do with #1 at TDC....

I wasn't using that to determine TDC, just asking be make sure that as long as the marks are lined up, I'm good.

So back to the adjustment:

I just checked and I am certain I'm at No.1 compression (No.4 valves move and No.1 stays stationary). So now I should tighten (remove lash plus 1/2 turn):
No. 1 Cylinder - Exhaust and Intake
No. 2 Cylinder - Intake
No. 3 Cylinder - Exhaust
No. 4 Cylinder - Intake

Then rotate a full 360* and tighten:
No. 2 Cylinder - Exhaust
No. 3 Cylinder - Intake
No. 4 Cylinder - Exhaust

And double checking that it goes IEEIIEEI from front to back or No1 - No4

All correct?

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Valve adjustment question, please help!

Almost all GM heads start with the exaust valve.Personally I do each cylinder individually .Turn the motor over untill an intake opens and closes, that puts that cylinder on it`s compression stroke,set that one and move to the next one the same way.

 

[Don S]

Re: Valve adjustment question, please help!

As I said before,

If you had the timing marks on the cam and the crank lined up. That is NOT #1 TDC on the compression stroke,

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: Valve adjustment question, please help!

It sounds like you may be lost. Time to start over. Loosen all the rocker nuts.

Set the crank to TDC #1, snug down the nuts on the I and E while twisting the push rod with your fingers. when it stops twisting, add 1/2 to 3/4 turn and your set.
Turn the crank 180 deg. and go to the next cylinder in the firing order and repeat the steps from the other cylinder,
then turn 180 and repeat for the next one,
turn 180 and repeat for the last one.
Then your done.

 

[jemsoccer]

Re: Valve adjustment question, please help!

As I said before,

The sprocket cover is on, so I'm not looking at those. I only mentioned those marks to be certain that as long as the marks are lined up when assembling the cam/crank, I did it correctly. The way I'm determining TDC is with the '0' timing mark and belt pulley.

 

[Don S]

Re: Valve adjustment question, please help!

Set the crank to TDC #1, snug down the nuts on the I and E while twisting the push rod with your fingers. when it stops twisting, add 1/2 to 3/4 turn and your set.

Biff, you are missing ONE BIG IMPORTANT PIECE OF INFORMATION.

Not just #1TDC, it MUST be #1TDC on the Compression (aka Firing) stroke.

IT takes 2 complete revolutions of the crankshaft to make one revolution of the cam and distributor. #1 is at the top twice in the complete 4 cycles of an engine.

When you get the timing mark on the pulley and the timing cover lined up. Check a quarter of a turn before and after the mark. Does either of the valves move on number #1 cylinder? If not, then that is #1 TDC on the compression stroke.
If both valves move you are one revolution off. Turn the crank 360? and try it again.