Need some mechanic help please !
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Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 38
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Need some mechanic help please !
I had the unfortunate surprise of antifreeze in my oil doing what I thought was the last-step oil change before I test drove my '59 F100 for the first time since I bought it.
I pulled the head and the gasket was obviously shot, but I took the head in to the local machine shop anyway to get it checked out.
$311 dollars later with some new valves, it's all cleaned up and ready to go back together.
My question is this: I know I have to adjust the valve lash - the machine shop provided me the numbers. I'm pretty sure each cylinder has to be at TDC to set the valve lash, correct? So how do I know when each cylinder is at TDC and both valves are closed?
Am I on the right track here? I've never put a head on with a solid lifter setup and I don't want to screw anything up.
Any advice is greatly appreciated.
I pulled the head and the gasket was obviously shot, but I took the head in to the local machine shop anyway to get it checked out.
$311 dollars later with some new valves, it's all cleaned up and ready to go back together.
My question is this: I know I have to adjust the valve lash - the machine shop provided me the numbers. I'm pretty sure each cylinder has to be at TDC to set the valve lash, correct? So how do I know when each cylinder is at TDC and both valves are closed?
Am I on the right track here? I've never put a head on with a solid lifter setup and I don't want to screw anything up.
Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 833
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put your thumb in the spark plug hole and have someone turn the motor over. when the pressure blows your thumb out your pretty close. use the timing mark on you balancer to get you exact. you should be able to do two at a time.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,299
Likes: 1,059
From: NM
Find TDC for the #1 cylinder as described above. After you're there and set the valves on #1, turn the engine in the normal running direction: 120 degrees (1/3 rev) for a six cylinder, 90 degrees (1/4 turn) for a V8. (Sounds like you have a 6?) This will be the next cylinder in the firing order. Repeat until all are done. (Should be two complete revolutions)
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 463
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and/or you can shine a flash light in each spark plug hole and see when the piston(s) is at the top of it's stroke as your friend hand turns the engine over.....or stick a long screwdriver in the sparkplug hole for each to determine top as it's being turned over.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,784
Likes: 45
From: Minnesota
I have a question when you adjust valve lash does the lobe of the cam have the back of the rocker lifted to its highest point or maximum lift? If it does you could look at each rocker while turning the crank pulley when it stops moving up you are at TDC or as close as you can be.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
No, just the opposite, the valves should be on their seats so the lifters will be on the lowest part of the cam lobe when you check clearance. At max lift, there would be no clearance to adjust. You can turn the engine over in the rotation direction with a large breaker bar and socket on the crankshft bolt with all the plugs out and watch the rocker arms. When both valves are closed on the first cylinder just rotate the engine until the timing pointer is pointing at zero and you are at TDC. Same for any other cylinder you want to adjust. Adjust so the feeler gauge is a tight fit between the rocker arm and valve step tip: difficult to pull out and push back in. If it goes in and out easily it is too loose, If you have to yank it out and can't get it back in it's too tight, heavy friction out and just barely able to push it back in without bending it is just right.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
If your hateful like me and have no friends, use a small piece of paper towel in the spark plug hole and when you rotate the engine, the towel pop out. It is very noticeable and then you can check with a light. Make sure your piece of towel isn't small enough to get sucked down in the cylinder. As for the valve adjustment, I dunno. Good luck.
