Viru: If you ever need a reference, I have my engine out at the moment and I am in Canton, GA if you need to stop by and take a peek. Let me know :)

Thanks Keith,
I am actually about to do the actual valve adjustment. I spent the whole weekend getting it ready. This is the first mechanical thing ive done so im taking alot of time. the pain was the cat, that thing was rusted on there. I finally got it off this morning and got everything on top out of the way so now i can get to all the covers. im going to stop right now and spend the rest of the week doing the actual adjustment slowly. I might take friday off. i get home at 3 so i should have plenty of light to get it done. I tried to get everything i needed but i couldnt avoid hitting pepboys and sears a couple of times, and ill have to order more parts from pelican tonight for gaskets for the cat and stuff. am i crazy or should they add the little gaskets for the oil plug and oil tank plugs to the major service kits?

If i take a few days to do this do i need to keep the valve covers on while im not working on it to avoid getting anything in there? or will it be ok to leave them off? i am working in a carport (i wish i bought the house with the garage now). I can't tell all of you guys enough how much awesome you are for all the help. without you guys and the books and tutorials i would never have attempted to do any of this myself. I have to say after spending all weekend doing this i like tinkering with the 911 almost as much as driving it with the top off.

Keith let me know if you need any help with yours i'd love to learn some more. im in Lawrenceville.

now the pain is i have a torque wrench that i have to convert the values to get 4 and 6 ft-lbs. it only does in-lbs and newton meters. anyone know the conversion off the top of thier heads?

thanks again everyone,
Frank

4 ft lbs = 48 in lbs -- 6 ft lbs = 72 in lbs

Viru: I may take you up on that. I could probably use an extra hand (not to mention the company) putting this engine back in. I despise doing it myself. It seems to take twice as long when you only have one set of hands/eyes.

By the way, you would probably be ok with the covers off, but personally, I would take any chances. It doesnt take long to "snug them up"

Just let me know,

does anyone know the pelican part number for the cat bolts, i used a 13mm wrench and socket to get them off.

thanks,
Frank

1. What is this?
A: It is the top of the bracket that holds the fender extension in place. no cap needed. Clean it and leave it alone.

2. Remove the Cat?
A: I would try to leave it in first and see if you can get around it. Even the stock CAT did not allow much space there. That side of the engine is always cramped.

My valve job tips:

1) Find a great mechanic who does not price gouge his customers
2) Drive the car to his shop
3) He/she does the valve job
4) Pick up the car. Pay him/her $250
5) Repeat next year

If you haven't buttoned up the engine yet (now that it is monday)...
check, double-check, quadruple check before you do. I found that tightening the lock nut changed the valve gap. I did it my first time a month or so ago, and when I was done there was a slight clicking. It got a bit worse. When my car was in last week getting a new clutch the mechanic told me it was running rough (it was a bit) and so for the cost of 1 hour labor he re-adjusted them while the motor was out and my GOD it runs better now. Remember that a valve that is adjusted to loose is noisy, but a valve that is adjusted to tight will cause loss of power and that poor valve can even burn, which will result in the need for at least a top end rebuild!

Just when i thought it couldnt get any harder
 

ok now i have a problem,

i dont have any z1 mark, i do have notches and two of them are red, i had to replace the fan belt because the old one was too loose to turn the motor over (one little project out of the way) i tried turning it over and looking at the rockers and i see them moving but i cannot find which one is for tdc, my distributor looks different as well (compared to the valve adjustment tech article, it does look like there are markings on it, do i have a bastard part with no z1 or is this normal for an 86 911?

any ideas?

thanks
Frank

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1081205242.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1081205258.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1081205273.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1081205294.jpg

Don't see much different about your distributor.

There are normally 4 marks on the pulley, 3 equally spaced 120 degrees apart, and the fourth one very close to one of the 3.

On the set of 2 marks close together, the first one you see is the timing mark for your engine (say 5 degrees before top dead center, that is why it appears first), and the second one is the TDC Z1 mark. Line up the engine at the Z1 mark, grab a rocker (either 1 or 4) and rock it slightly, if it is lose at all, that is the one to adjust. Follow the firing order after that.

i dont have the z1 mark at all, thats what threw me, but i see what you are saying. lemme go try.

thanks
frank

ok got it all back together
 

ok after learning the firing order and figuring out the distrib i finally got comfortable and found TDC.

that was fun but quite a pain in the a$$. i got everything back together yesterday morning and i triple checked everything (did a major service with the valves). turned the key and it fired right up. the only thing im not happy with was the a/c belt tension. i dont think it looks just right. anyone have any tips on getting that belt just right?

The valves seemed easier to adjust by feel than trying to look. but at some angles it seemed that the feeler gauge had more free play than at others.

anybody know the best way to check for valve noise? the engine sounds fine but even before when the mechanic said they were noisy i couldnt really hear them. if anyone can describe noisy valves and the best place to put your ear that would be great. I thought i would just swing by the shop tomorrow and let them take a look at my work to make sure. i drove it for about 30 miles today and it seemed ok.

thanks for everyones input i couldn't have done this without all the support,
Frank