OK, Got them installed. Installed the stud kit. Adjusted to zero lash and 1/2 turn then locked down used locktite on stud and adjusters. started eng, ran quite until hot up. Got clicking noise and fluctuation in vacume guage.

Background: New Crane cam (272 grind),lifters,and push rods, Aussie heads with new valves,springs, and complete eng rebuild. I think I have my own answer here but please verify if I am crazy!

Here is what I need to do.I messed up in 2 places!

I placed each cyl top dead center,turned down adjuster by hand to zero lash. Turned with a wrench 1/2 turn and locked down. I should of went one full turn!

I also used locktite on adj (red) Should of been blue!

Any aditional info or a "knock in the head" would be welcomed. Thanks Art

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 15-Oct-02 AT 01:31 PM (EST)]it looks like where you messed up was in adjusting at TDC - try this:
for each cylinder, adjust the intake when the exhaust for the same cylinder is just starting to open. then just when the intake closes, adjust the exhaust.

make sure you're turning he engine the right way - i think it's clockwise as viewed from the front. if that's the right way, the intake will start to open just as the exhaust closes, then both will stay closed for a while until the exhaust opens again. you can visually line up the header tubes with the exhaust valves to tell which is which...

also, you want to make sure the lifters are neither collapsed or pumped up - they should be springy, so if you push down on the pushrod end it feels like you're pushing in a spring. zero lash will be when everything is "snug", but the spring isn't being compressed. then when you add an extra 1/2 to 3/4 turn, the spring will be compressed slightly, but still have a lot of travel left.

it's a good idea to prime the lifters before you start it up - use an oil pump priming tool or a socket that's duct-taped (you DON'T want it to fall off!) onto the end of a long extension and turn the pump until oil flows out the pushrod end of each rocker, over the rockers, and down over the valve springs.

i wouldn't use loctite on the adjusters! - if you have poly-locks, they'll do the job just fine. if you have the "crimped" locknuts, go get 16 regular nuts (the good ones that are next to the grade-8 bolts) and after you do the adjustment, use one wrench to hold the adjustment on the crimped "locknut", and another wrench to tighten down the regular nut to loch them together. those crimped nuts are not reliable - they need a backup!

 

Be careful till you are sure they aren't too tight, you could burn a valve or bend a push rod.

I have a diagram at home that shows where to set the crank balancer to adjust several valves at a time (three positions). "E" mail me if you want it.

 

Just got done adjusting the rockers again. I adjusted before I read your mail, I used the blue locktite. I rotated the eng with the starter just like the instructions that came with the cam,same as yours. The engine runs better and was really quite until it warmed up. It sounds like maybe one or 2 are tapping slightly. For now I just might leave it alone, change oil after breakin and then readjust.What do you think? I have done alot to this eng, see my gallary. I have only run it for 2 hours. I have good oil pressure at idle 3/4. I was told by an old timer that I may just have to adjust them while it is running. Thanks Art

 

did you break the motor in correctly?

you might have worn a lobe down if not broken in right

also run it about 100 miles

do you first oil change and rerun the rocker arms again

 

>I rotated the
>eng with the starter just like the instructions that came
>with the cam,same as yours.

actually, i use a 1/2" ratchet - guess i should have mentioned that. but as long as you get it where it needs to be...

roller rockers are a little noisier than stock, so they may be fine - i guess exactly "how noisey" depends on the listener.

 

You may find that the cam's causing the noise. They get pretty aggressive with the nose ramp on some of the modern grinds. I know the Comp. Cams HV276 (?) made a lot of valve train noise.