valve adjustment

[jac912]

Going to attempt adjusting the valves on my
'67 tomorrow. I've never done this before but I have two excellent manuals on the procedure so not worried but I don't
have new gaskets to put on. Think I'll make a mess? Should I wait another week to get the gaskets or just let 'em leak and deal with it later? Dumb question I know ..looking for tips on valve adjustment I guess...Thanks

[josh912]

Wait and get the gaskets with a strip of metal inside. They are reusable and don't leak. I think you can get them through Performance Products and maybe Zims. However, if you can't wait due to time constraints, go ahead and do them now. As far as a mess, put a piece of cardboard under the heads and you'll be fine. Its really easy and not really messy. Good Luck. Oh, and loose is MUCH MUCH MUCH better than tight. (make sure the feeler guage is snug, but not tight)

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Joshua Harrison
Porsche owner at heart

[jac912]

Thanks for the reply Josh. Got another question for you. Looking at the pair of
rods for each cylinder which is the intake and which is exhaust? Also....seems like there isn't a definite "feel" with the feeler gauge behind that rocker arm...no way I can feel a difference between .004 and .006
so I must be feeling the wrong spot.

Ohhh... looked in the 356 tech topics and saw an excellent picture ...now I get it !
Still assume intake is on the right.


[This message has been edited by jac912 (edited 11-04-2001).]

Well...followed the tips precisly and was unable to loosen cylinder one in or out enough to even get the .002 to slide freely.
cylinder two , after rotating 180 dg seems ok but the intake max clearance was .002

What gives ?


[This message has been edited by jac912 (edited 11-04-2001).]

[josh912]

Intakes are in the center (E-I-I-E). As for the tight fit, are you sure the engine is at TDC for cylinder 1?

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Joshua Harrison
Porsche owner at heart

[jac912]

Thanks again Josh. By following the tech topics instruction as well as the 2 manuals I have
I'm convinced I did it right. It is possible that with a P.O. changing the distributor and adding electronic ignition that #1 is no longer #1. I should check where the #1 spark is. In the mean time I adjusted them (1 & 2)
by running the engine with the valve cover off and tightening from way too loose until ticking stopped. Not scientific but guess what.. is runs smooth and strong to 4500 rpms...my limit. Will try again next warm day off but here in New England that may be aways off! Hope you're closing in on a new 912 ! You can't stay away forever!
Jim in Ma. by the way..If you're ever in the area....you can drive my car anytime!

[ClayMcguill]

You adjusted the valves with the engine RUNNING?

Sounds like a hot, oily, painful job..but then, I used to do the same thing on my Chevy V8-but it had hydrualic lifters. Let it idle, backed off the rocker arm nut until it clacked, tightend it until it quit, then 1/4 turn more. Ran smooth as glass...

Problem is, the 912 has solid lifters-sure hope your engine was nice and hot when you did it, otherwise you got 'em too tight-and a burned valve is in your near future. The gap is specifed for a stone-cold engine to allow for thermal expansion when it heats up-no hydraulic lifters to self-compensate.



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Clay McGuill '66 912 My 912's restoration website, '97 Jeep Cherokee, '70 Ford Bronco My Bronco's rebuild site

[josh912]

Normally I would have chewed you out. BUT, I've done the same thing. I was having pushrod problems way back when, before the massive head bolt gasket failures (long scary story), and I was switching the pushrods around. Didn't have time or wanted to wait for the engine to cool off so I adjusted them with the engine running. Relatively not messy job. Lost very little oil, and got to watch a Porsche motor work at its finest. Not bad. Just don't go and redline the engine with the valve covers off! (No I didn't)

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Joshua Harrison
Porsche owner at heart

[jac912]

Yes...my skills are still unworthy. It was cool to watch it work with the cover off, but only at idle. And Clay I did turn it off
in between adjustments! Will investige my real problem soon ...promise!


[This message has been edited by jac912
(edited 11-06-2001).]
As suspected #1 spark is on #4 cylinder. So Whats on first and Holy Jeez is on second !
Lol is sliding into third!

[This message has been edited by jac912 (edited 11-06-2001).]

[mein12]

Holy geez,

LOL.....

[jac912]

Alrighty then....got it all figured out and adjusted a little on the loose side as recommended. Runs great and exhaust sounds really good. But..there is significant mechanical noise...valve lash, rocker tapping...call it what you want. Will the new adjustment "wear in" or should I tighten up a little to the exact spec?
Thank you all!

[josh912]

If they aren't too loose (remember just slightly loose), it shouldn't be a problem. Check your rockers for wear. They might need to be replaced in the near future. Also, was the noise there before? If it was, it very well could be the lifters.

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Joshua Harrison
Porsche owner at heart