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That's very cool, good for you.
For us older blokes (maybe 45+?), valve adjustments came with car ownership, especially if we were inclined towards European stuff. For me, my first three cars all needed this as an integral part of maintenance: 62 MG Midget, 67 Triumph TR4A, 74 VW Bug. I **think**even my (only) American vehicle, a 77 Jeep CJ5 with 232 cu.in. I-6 had some facility for valve adjustment, except the motor was so beat that no meaningful amount adjustment could be rendered. It rattled but still ran quite well.
Progressing to Alfa's made the valve adjusting task more involved (remove cams and change shims as needed...like a Jaguar), but I confess I've never actually done that in 30+ years of Alfa ownership; I've measured them but only had anything remedial done when I've sent a head out for a valve job, at which point the Alfa-guru re-set them as part of the process. Keith at Alfas Unlimited in Norfolk CT, Jim at Anchor Atlantic in NJ and Vince at Nick Falcone's in Bala Cynwyd, PA (i.e., Philly) have all done this for me, supremely well. I remember the little eccentric adjusters on BMW M10 and M30 engines, and shims that could be changed on VW Golf/Scirocco motors without pulling the cam, with the special K-D Tools pliers.
As a guy who still enjoys replacing and gapping points, I suppose the fact I like adjusting valves is not surprising. John.
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