valve adjustment disaster, HELP!

[MOMO3.2]

I took the big step and adjusted the valves on my 1987 Carrera 3.2. All the valves seemed tight becasue I could not get the adjustment blade into any of them. Anyway, I followed the directions from the Bently, 101 Projects, and posts on this Forum to the best of my ability. I have successfully adjusted valves on a VW Beetle several times and a 914.

My car started fine. The valves sounded like they may have been a little more noisy. But, it is always so noisy I could not tell for sure. I got the car up to temperature. It seemed like power was fine. I accelerated hard a couple times. And it seemed fine. Then after a third hard acceleration valve(s) got really noisy. It was enough to shut it down and coast home. There is a LOUD click now that sounds like maybe one valve is grossly out of adjustment.

I feel really defeated and more than a little worried. That was a lot of work and I thought I did everything correctly.

I hope the click is a valve that came way out of adjustment and not something worse. I am going to have the car towed to a mechanic (either Nardi Motors in Whittier, Ca or Scientific Automotive in Pasadena, Ca). I am praying this is not something major. I don't really have $4,000 or $5,000 to throw at my car right now.

Keep my engine in your prayers over the weekend.

Mike

[aigel]

Man, have a beer and relax. All you did is probably have one that is too loose. That is a lot safer than too tight. Chances that you hurt something are very slim, unless you forgot the tools in the valvecover. I hear it happens to the best doctors!

After you had you brew, go out to the garage and do it again. No need to give up at this point.

George

[MOMO3.2]

Thanks George. I am worried because "an event" took place(like a nut came loose and the adjustment screw moved a lot or I dropped a valve). The valves just sounded a little noisy then after a hard acceleration there was a LOUD clicking noise. I am afraid to start it again.

Mike

[john walker's workshop]

could well be a nut came off and the screw backed out. decide where it's coming from, upper/lower/right/left, and pull the respective cover and find out. you don't learn anything unless you screw up first.

[MOMO3.2]

Thank you John:

I sent you a pm.

Mike

[Jim Smolka]

When doing valve adj, sometimes it is a good idea to remove the tin on the side of the motor.