I have an original Ford Truck manual and have adjusted the Valve Clearance and pretty much eliminated the noisy lifters...

Question though...

From my manual, it states "...tighten the [rocker arm stud] nut to just remove all the push rod to rocker arm clearance. This may be determined by rotating and/or moving the push rod with the fingers as the stud nut is tightened. When the push rod end clearance has been eliminated, tighen the stud nut and additional 1 1/2 turns to place the hydraulic lifter plunger in the center of it's travel."

??

I'm sure to those with experience pulling wrenches this makes perfect sense... ...but, does this literally mean that once I eliminate the 'looseness' of the rod, then I turn the stud/nut 1.5 more times?

Sorry if redundant and obvious, but I don't want to hurt the 'ol girl.

Chad

 

Thanks for the feedback 44dwarf...I do have a mechanics book that gave me a pretty good idea of the how and why of the hydraulic lift.

One other question for you or anyone out there:

How do I determine exactly where the Top Dead Center of the first valve will be? Is is just by turning the crank by hand until lifter #1 reaches it's highest point via the cam rotation?

 

Do you mean TDC on the number one piston? I do not quite follow what you mean with "TDC of the first valve". Top Dead Centre normally refers to the number one piston being at the top of it's stroke on the compression stroke. You need to remember that each piston reaches the top of it's stroke twice in a combustion cycle. For the purposes of adjusting the valve clearance TDC would mean the on the compression stroke. On the compression stroke both the inlet and outlet valves are in the closed position. ie the camshaft lobes are not in the process of opening or closing the inlet and exhaust valves in that cylinder. TDC is normally indicated with a mark on the crankshaft damper and there are normally markings on the valve train cover indicating the degrees leading up to 0 degrees which would be TDC. You then just need to ensure that the no1 piston is on its compression stroke by feeling if the air is being pushed past your finger if you press down on the spark plug hole (with the spark plug removed) whilst simultaneously rotating the crankshaft in the direction of TDC or looking if the end of the rotor is lining up with the no 1 spark plug lead on the distributor cap or by looking at the position of the camshaft lobes. Hope this helps.

 

Marnus, you are correct and that is what I meant to type (piston not valve).

I ended up adjusting the valves a little differently than the actual manual recommended...it was actually from this forum that I picked it up.

I removed my valve cover and started the truck...it was really cool to be able to actually see which rocker arm was making the chatter! I simply adjusted the studs from there and my truck has never sounded better!

Chad