Disaster avoided, lesson learned ..
 

To other valve adjustment newbies ...

I'm double checking my first valve adjustment when I notice that one of the infinitisimally small nuts that holds the spacer blade IS MISSING! OH F**K!!

Well after much searching and probing gently around the rockers it is found. Happy day!

Make sure they're tight. I think I'll wrap it with tape, also.

Take the tool apart. Degrease the screws and nuts with brake cleaner, acetone, etc. Reassemble with blue loctite on the fastener threads. Cheers, Jim

Is the ‘better’ tool still available? I tried a search, but timed out…

island911 has them.

I give a BIG thumbs up to the tool Island sells. Once you use it you won't go back the other kind.

I'm interested in this better tool that island911 sells (sorry Wayne), but I can't seem to find their website. Any help?
Thanks,
Gary

Greg:

I have 2 of the "good ones" One with .005, and one with .004. I know this is late, but you are welcome to borrow them for the next go around. There WILL be a next go around . . . trust me. :)

Gary:

Island911 is member of this board, and when Baum tools refused to sell anymore of the tools, he had them made. In fact, I have one of each, and Island's is better than the original.

Thanks Mark.
If island911 has any more to sell, I'm interested!
Regards,
Gary.

Marc, thanks. No doubt there'll be a next time - I'm not convinced I've completed the first time!

Believe me when I say, I know what you mean.

It sure seems easier and safer to pay a couple hundred bucks to have someone that does this for a living do this job. My time is worth more to me than this aggravation and stress.

Just because someone does it for a living does'nt necessarily mean that it will be done right. Also it happens to be my therapy. Paying a shrink a couple hundred bucks is not appealing to me. ;)

Just my 2 cents

Yes, I like the therapeutic aspects. Actually, I rather resent your implication that I may BE AGGRAVATED AND STRESsSss SSss S SS SSSeD OUtttt!! iT's JUST a blooDDY frEAKIn car for GODS SAKE! why should I PAy someONE eLse to do a stupid TUNEUP when when when I could ENJOY the reeelaxinG QUAaaa litY tIME speeent do do doing it MYSELF. JeeeeeEz..us!!

Sounds like fun! Where do I sign up?

Indeed!
There are a lot of pro-hacks out there as evidenced by some posts here.

Re: The island911 Valve Adjustment Tool (tm).....

I bought one from Glenn last year, but the 'Bomber's motor was out before I ever got to use it.
I got my chance just a couple of weeks ago as I put the motor back together. Verdict: This tool *almost* makes valve adjustment a pleasure. I doubt I will bother to use the "official" Porsche tool ever again.

I don't know if Glenn stiil has any in stock, as they were a "Limited Edition" of sorts. You might try sending him a nice PM and asking.

If you cant get the tool your looking for try this: Go buy a set of feeler guages. The one that has about 30. Take the .004 out and bend it at almost a right angle. Now, the rest of the feeler guages acts like a handle. Your right index finger will rest on the part that is bent. You will use your index finger to push it into the space that you measure. Most of the time it will just slide in. I wrap a piece of duct tape around my finger to help with pushing it in. Kind of sharp. This works great! I've had the same one for over 15 adjustments. I just leave it bent and stash it for the next time. Try it-you'll ike it! :) This works 10 times better than the one that you buy except the one mentioned above that island has. I have yet to buy his. I like mine.

Thanks for the info guys, I've pm'd island911 and look forward to doing the valve adjustments on my 911, I currently do them on my '65 bug and '69 Ghia (the '78 Westy has hydraulic lifters, dammit).
Regards,
Gary