First valve adjustment

[stefang]

I'm getting close, so time to get stuff together - what do I need? Feeler gauge (Island never came out with the new batch, did he?), gaskets (are the silicone ones worth it?), nuts and washers, fresh plugs and oil - anything else?

Stef

[david.avery]

Oil filter, oil filter wrench, properly sized wrenches for the valve adjustors, big catch basin, new crush washer for drain, and lastly, patience (bass or Guiness will help with this)

[CarreraS2]

I've always said this job is really easy. I've kind of rethought that position.

It IS fairly easy for those of us that have done it a bunch of times (although still tedious and time consuming). But it can be pretty challenging for a first-timer. There are significant access issues. You really have to be able to do it by feel, which takes a little experience to do.

It does take a LOT of patience. Esp. for a first timer. This is not a job that everyone is going to be able to do right, and the consequences of doing it wrong can be bad.

Here's what I'd suggest:

Do it in phases. On day 1, just plan on doing the intakes of Cyls 1, 2 and 3 (the ones on the driver's side).

You won't have to drain any oil to do those. Don't take the spark plugs out. All you do is remove whatever minor stuff you have to do to get to those valves (you don't say what year your car is, but regardless, it is minor).

Rotate to TDC on Cyl 1 and give that intake valve a try. If you are REALLY comfortable that you got it right, rotate the engine to do #2, then #3.

Recheck your work, and if you are satisfied, button it up and you are done for the day. If you've done those 3 right, as a first timer, you've done enough work and spent enough time for the first day.

Test drive the car and see if it sounds ok (no ticking valves).

Do the rest the next day or weekend.

[stefang]

It's an '88.

Thanks for the suggestion of doing it in phases. I'm fairly mechanically adept, but patience is not really one of my strong points. I shall however approach this job with the proper Zen attitude.

Stef

[CarreraS2]

On an '88 is it really easy to clear the driver's side intake valve area. It's just that one plastic tube running from the heat exchanger to the blower.

The problem with doing them all at once, IMO, for a first timer is that 12 valves is a lot to do. They each take a lot of time to really get right - check, double check, and triple check each, not be satisfied until it really feels right. AND, there is a lot of extra "stuff" involved, taking off the AC compressor, jacking up the car, draining the oil, etc. etc. etc. in doing them all at once.

Good luck! Be sure to post how it went.

[Tspringer]

Did my '69 911S a coupe of weeks ago. Easy as pie. No access problems, everything came apart and went back easy as pie.

I was sort of disappointed that only 2 exhaust valves and 1 intake valve were even slightly out of adjustment