first time valve adjust

dfink · 10-08-2003, 12:36 PM

Not really a question but a post thanking Pelican for sending all the parts I needed to complete my first valve adjust. oil change. transmission fluid change. Doesn't sound better, run better, shift better or leak less but I feel better knowing it is done and that there were no missing or broken studs. Took about 5 hours for those curious. A Saturday job for me and my 16 year old son. He was a lot of help and I hope he learned a thing or two about the car at the same time. To all those contemplating the chore I do suggest getting the extra blades for the feeler gauge. I didn't break mine but bent it several times and was afraid of how much more it would take. I also had some problems figuring out how to get my sears allen wrench into the filler plug for the trany. The throttle/clutch cables are in the way. Finally put the long end into the plug kindof scooting the cable out of the way and used an adjustable wrench to turn the allen. I think a hex drive on an extension would have worked better. Or cut off about 1.5 inches from the short end of the allen so it would fit behind the cables. Also was suprised that the swepco 201 is blue. Man working on a creeper sure was a lot easier 25 years ago. biggest problem was figuring out how to jack the car up. I used ramps on one end and jacks on the other. Finally put the front on the ramps and then was just able to get under the motor to put the rear on jacks. If I put the rear on the ramps I couldn't get under the front with the jack.

Zeke · 10-08-2003, 04:03 PM

Congrats on all the work you accomplished with your son. Of course, now that he is vested in the car, he will want to drive it.

If you insist on using ramps, drive the car on to a couple of 2x6's at the other end. Maybe this wil give you the extra height you need to get the jack under there. I don't use ramps because they are big and hard to store and the possibilty of driving off the other end does exist. I will use them as a stand that I insert under a raised car if I need the extra space between the wheels. I raise each end of the car with a jack; not all the way at each end, but about half of what I want and then all the way on the second go round. I will drive the car onto boards to get the jack under.

dfink · 10-08-2003, 04:17 PM

Yeah I probably should just use two sets of stands but having one end on the ramps just looks safer. I did have to use some wood to finally get off the ramps. Too lazy to jack it up twice or maybe just to dumb to think of it.

jhoagg · 10-08-2003, 06:22 PM

Hi
I'm a little surprised you didn't notice any improvements at all after these jobs. I just did both of them too. A few of my clearances were off and I noticed the engine revved a bit more easily and smoothly. And I could swear that my synchro on second gear is a bit better after putting in the Swepco, but I admit that could be psychological. I had exactly the same problem with the allen wrench you did.

dfink · 10-08-2003, 06:31 PM

From what I have read on the other swepco 201 posts the difference in the trany will come with time if any difference at all.

s_wilwerding · s_wilwerding's Garage

Send me an e-mail. You'll have to come into Omaha (or I'll come out to Fremont) some time and we can go driving. I'd be inerested in seeing your car.