Good lord. Valve adjust on stock SC just isn't fun.

[vash]

Anymore. Been working on friends track cars, and I am flat out spoiled. I don't remember having so much junk in front of my valve covers. This may be a two day job. I'm sore.

Ok. Vented now.

[Scott R]

Stupid AC compressor! Always cut myself an on that and the damn CAT. (well I used to have a cat anyway)

[vash]

I'll revisit tomorrow. Car all opened up. Tired

[kidrock]

I don't even have a bunch of extraneous crap in the way, and I still think that a valve adjustment is a minor PITA....especially intake valves #3 & #6.

So I take my time. I'll get her warmed up and dump the oil. Then I'll start removing blower motors, hoses and compressor after she's cooled down.

I'll do the valves the next day with a cold motor (and a couple of ice cold brews).

I just get all pissed off and stressed out when I try to do everything in 3 hours. It ain't worth it. I guess I'm just a Type A personality.

[dan88911]

How about some photos Vash?
For us valve adjustment novice.
.

[cantdrv55]

Dude, you adjusted the valves in my SC four years ago and you did it fast too. I guess you were four years younger then.

[80-911SC]

last one I did at my house for another Pelicans car took four days .. mainly due to the fact that I think someone JB welded the covers on .. took almost two days to clean the crap off alone ..

then the exhaust had a crack in a weld so that had to be fixed ...

wound up just pulling the engine tin and the cat for access to clean the stuff off the covers mating surface out of necessity ...

Mine is much easier .. backdated heat and a/c delete ..

I feel your pain ...

[yelcab1]

Vash is a weenie. Try valve adjustment in a four valve Ferrari.

[fastfredracing]

Now that I have been playing with turbo cars, an SC/ Carrera seems like a walk in the park. Working on early no ac cars, or track cars will spoil you. You've got this Vash.

[DrvSlo]

i am getting ready to so my first valve adjustment and i was wondering if i have any thing to worry about? i have the 101 projects book and i am just trying to do as much research as possible before. Also i heard its easy to do? Where is the best place to buy the valve adjustment tools, and do i just need normal tools and a feeler gauge? Thanks so much.
btw i have a 84 911

[Drisump]

Originally Posted by DrvSlo

i am getting ready to so my first valve adjustment and i was wondering if i have any thing to worry about? i have the 101 projects book and i am just trying to do as much research as possible before. Also i heard its easy to do? Where is the best place to buy the valve adjustment tools, and do i just need normal tools and a feeler gauge? Thanks so much.
btw i have a 84 911

For the tools and parts, here. The 3.2 has the least amount of room and difficult lines of sight of all the naturally aspirated 911's. I know that when I start on it, I shouldn't have anything planned for the afternoon other than the task at hand. Anything that makes the job easier such as the special feeler gauge, a little mirror, small ratcheting wrench, and adequate lighting will go along way toward making it a more pleasant experience. DON'T LOOK AT THE TIME , find your Zen place and bond with your machine. Good luck.

[herman maire]

I had a hard enough time with the engine out of the car!!!!

[mpetry]

it's WAY easier and you don't have to adjust every valve, just the ones that are out of tolerance. It works great. You use an .0025 and an .003 feeler guage under the cam lobe as a go/no go.

Also I do each side of the engine rather than jumping back and forth from side to side. This means only one valve cover is off at a time, and rotating the engine 240 deg for even and odd numbered cylinders in sequence.

If you need lighting while you're in the engine compartment, try a hiker's headlamp.

Kudos to "racer27s" who came up with the backside method. A search on the forum will find the detailed how-to.

[vash]

i'm old school.

i have Island valve adjust tool. remember that one? i'll finish today. now i gotta walk the dog.

i dont even remember doing cantdrv55's car. 4 years is like an eternity for someone my age. hahah.

[vash]

Originally Posted by cantdrv55

Dude, you adjusted the valves in my SC four years ago and you did it fast too. I guess you were four years younger then.

i got alot of cheeseburgers and beer down in those four years..

[Ronnie's.930]

Originally Posted by mpetry

it's WAY easier and you don't have to adjust every valve, just the ones that are out of tolerance. It works great. You use an .0025 and an .003 feeler guage under the cam lobe as a go/no go.

Also I do each side of the engine rather than jumping back and forth from side to side. This means only one valve cover is off at a time, and rotating the engine 240 deg for even and odd numbered cylinders in sequence.

If you need lighting while you're in the engine compartment, try a hiker's headlamp.

Kudos to "racer27s" who came up with the backside method. A search on the forum will find the detailed how-to.

I will second using the "backside method"! This discussion comes up from time to time (backside 'v' traditional) and usually results in a 50/50 split on who thinks which method is superior. Guess it just boils down to personal preference, but for me there is just no comparison between the two techniques.

[vash]

backside method?

i know, i know. but for me, using the feeler gauge is not the issue. it is getting the stuff out of the way that is the problem..and this problem is "in my face" no matter where i want to jam whatever feeler gauge.

i have no problem using the .004 gauge..i got the "feel" down pat!

[80-911SC]

I may get slaughtered for this ... but ...

The back side method is even easier if you pull the two side engine tins ... all the work can be done from the bottom except for turning the engine 120 ...120 ...

But you can see everything .. takes the guess work out .. I do have the P213 to do them "correctly" .. but pass no pass easy peessy ... also just a hint ..

I put a red zip tie on the no pass and a green zip tie on the pass .. that way when your hands are dirty you can still see what you are holding ....

Steve

[will hung]

Originally Posted by Scott R

Stupid AC compressor! Always cut myself an on that and the damn CAT. (well I used to have a cat anyway)

The first time I adjusted my valves, I kept swearing at the cat, wondering how I was supposed to make an adjustment with it so close. Then I remembered this screw driver that came with furniture from IKEA. It has a flat and phillips head on each end, is about 4 inches long, and each end is bent at a 90 degree angle making it look like a Z. It was perfect.

[DaddyGlenn]

I just drop the engine/trans and valve adjust time. It's not a big deal for me any more and I usually find something else to fix, adjust or otherwise improve "while I'm in there"....