Valve Adjustment?
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Valve Adjustment?
I have a 79 351W.
Just bought the truck and tinkering with it. Had a clatter, so while tuning up the engine, I thought, well why not adjust the valves...
Popped the right side valve cover off, very clean to my surprise, reached down to the first valve spring and its loose as @#@$. So ok, I go to tighten it down, but its cranked all the way down, no more room to go.
You can see a video here
1966 F100
The video is #31.
Any idea of what is wrong? Wrong push rods? Lifters not right? Etc?
I would appreciate any help that you can give.
Thanks,
Richard
Just bought the truck and tinkering with it. Had a clatter, so while tuning up the engine, I thought, well why not adjust the valves...
Popped the right side valve cover off, very clean to my surprise, reached down to the first valve spring and its loose as @#@$. So ok, I go to tighten it down, but its cranked all the way down, no more room to go.
You can see a video here
1966 F100
The video is #31.
Any idea of what is wrong? Wrong push rods? Lifters not right? Etc?
I would appreciate any help that you can give.
Thanks,
Richard
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I don't have a caliper cable of true measurement but I just measured one of the push rods using my tape measure, and its right at 8.125.
From what I see online, the stock rods should be 8.150, not sure how much difference that makes, if that's the issue, or if its something else.
Richard
From what I see online, the stock rods should be 8.150, not sure how much difference that makes, if that's the issue, or if its something else.
Richard
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I have verified my block is a 79.
However the heads, I'm not sure of. The spark plug uses the 13/16 socket, the head has 351 under the valve cover, and it has stud rockers.
Any help on identifying the heads would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Richard
However the heads, I'm not sure of. The spark plug uses the 13/16 socket, the head has 351 under the valve cover, and it has stud rockers.
Any help on identifying the heads would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Richard
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 6,305
Likes: 18
From: Boulder Creek, Ca
Not an authority but if already have not done so, I would probably start at the effected cylinder(s) and check the clearance, if extremely loose suggest remove rocker arm and take a look at the pushrod and any damage. If able to get the engine running, suggest taking a narrow hose, or stethoscope type of apparatus and see if able to narrow search down to particular cylinder(s)? Fairly recently replaced cam and lifters as a first time 'do it myselfer' on 302 and found, in my case, adjusting rocker arm assembly required each cylinder be placed a TDC on the compression stroke, then tightened to zero lash, at which point added 1/2 turn. First attempt found zero lash does not mean one can not rotate the pushrod; rather, adjust until feel the slightest drag then add the 1/2 turn. Anyhow, it worked for me. In my case, found that after 15K miles on a rebuilt 302 the lifter seized and eventually beat the heck out of the cam lobe; needless to say, won't be giving them any more business??
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 209
Likes: 0
Not an authority but if already have not done so, I would probably start at the effected cylinder(s) and check the clearance, if extremely loose suggest remove rocker arm and take a look at the pushrod and any damage. If able to get the engine running, suggest taking a narrow hose, or stethoscope type of apparatus and see if able to narrow search down to particular cylinder(s)? Fairly recently replaced cam and lifters as a first time 'do it myselfer' on 302 and found, in my case, adjusting rocker arm assembly required each cylinder be placed a TDC on the compression stroke, then tightened to zero lash, at which point added 1/2 turn. First attempt found zero lash does not mean one can not rotate the pushrod; rather, adjust until feel the slightest drag then add the 1/2 turn. Anyhow, it worked for me. In my case, found that after 15K miles on a rebuilt 302 the lifter seized and eventually beat the heck out of the cam lobe; needless to say, won't be giving them any more business??
Richard
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