Valve Timing A 3.0
 

The metric dial indicator I was able to find has only a 1/4" stroke. When timing the valves does the dial indicator have to rest on the valve spring keeper through the valves entire stroke, or does it only have to register when it comes around again to the high point?

You can be the judge of that. If you can get an accurate measurement that is repeatable then you don't have a problem. I think you'll have to re zero it each time the valve closes since the "needle" will probable wander slightly when it's not in contact with the keeper.

-Andy

Wil,
The early 3.0's were set at 0.9mm to 1.1mm (1* BTDC). The later 3.0's were set at 1.4mm to 1.7mm (7* BTDC).
Either one is well within the capability of your metric dial indicator's 6 or 7mm stroke.
All you are interested in is the initial movement of the intake valve as it begins to open at the crossover TDC, Z1.
The stamping, keyway or dots should be down when timing the left side.
The right side is done after turning the crank 360*, at which time the stamping, keyway or dots will be up.
Left side Z1, upside down, Right side Z1, stamping, keyway or dots up.

Theoretically you could do this because the total lift for your timing is less than the 1/4". So it should work. However as mentioned the needle should probably be reset to zero every revolution because I suspect it will move off zero when it leaves the keeper.

I use metric tools (easy to find up here) however, any reason you don't want to use and imperical indicator and just convert the measurement??

Cheers

I used a standard indicator for several adjustments. 1mm is very close to 0.040" with every 0.1mm being 0.004" so it's really not that much more trouble.