Valve Adj/Oil Change at same time-Questions on Procedure
 

I'm getting ready, once it cools down here in N. Texas, to do my first valve adjustment and oil change. I thought I'd tie the 2 together, as it's recommended to drop the oil from the motor to keep the mess down once you get the valve covers off.
Engine hot to change oil=GOOD
Engine hot to adjust valves=BAD

My thought was to warm the car up on Friday evening, then raise her up and drain the oil. Then, on Saturday morning with a stone cold motor, I'll do the valves. Then, of course, finish up the oil change.

Does anyone see anything wrong with this plan? I can't imagine that leaving oil out overnight, and turning the motor by hand to adjust the valves would cause a problem, but I thought I'd pose this question.

That's how I do it.SmileWavy Except, I leave the car on the ground to drain the oil. Then in the morning lift it, and begin the joy of adjusting valves. After your first time, it gets easier.

And make sure you have 2 good size oil pans.

Thanks Matt. How long did your first valve adjustment take? Do I plan on an "all-day" event?

It took me all day my first time. Now that I have the hang of it, I can do an oil change and valve adjustment in 3-4 hours, depending on how much I clean while I'm in there.

First oil change/Valve job = 6+ hours the first day, plus 1 hour searching for dropped nut from feeler guage, 1 hour to sit in house and drink a beer, another hour the next day to button it all up... and then 1 hour several days later to check my work.

Second valve adjustment - 4.25 hours (plus an hour of cleaning and messing about).

Third adjustment - Just under 4 hours (with a 30 minute back-stretch-*****-session) This includes 20 minutes of figuring out how to bend and use the new Island911 valve tool.

It gets easier the more you do it. At this point the most aggravating part is removing/intalling all the nuts on the valve covers.