Some of the valves will be on the nose of the cam and open, so you have to rotate the engine several times to get the nose off so you can check that valve. This can be done one of several ways. 1) use a large socket and breaker bar to rotate the engine at the crank pulley. Make sure you turn it clockwise. 2) Tap the starter with the coil disconnected so it won't start. This is kind of imprecise and may take a lot of tries. 3) With the car on level ground, put it in 5th and push the car with the e-brake off.
I simply have a brick near the rear wheel... and on a flat surface, in gear, with the plugs pulled... just PUSH the car backwards or forwards...
The car came with a haynes manual but it's pretty beat up and probably missing some pages, it also doesn't cover my year.
The best mechanic is free; you. You care more than any hired gun, you know the symptoms far better than they would. It might take you much more time but if you go slow and ask a lot of questions, you'll fix it correctly and save enough money to actually afford toys like this, I could never have them if I weren't my own mechanic. You've already shown the wisdom of asking for diagnostic help instead of tearing into it not knowing.Quality costs money. They best mechanic is never the cheapest! I,for example have very accurate repairs, but I am by no means cheap. I always say there is the PRICE of a repair and the COST of it.
:2c:
I measured my clearances today and unfortunately none of them seem too far off, actually they were all a little tighter than the specs called for.
Starting from the passenger side and working towards the driver side.
1-.012"
2-.008"
3-.009
4-.013
5-.013
6-.008
7-.009
8-.012
One bit of information I left out (which is probably a crucial bit) is that when I test drove the car before purchasing it it did not make the noise in question. Since I bought it it has been up on jack stands while I fiddle with it (since June) . In that time I've cleaned/degreased the engine a few times (still not spotless), changed the plugs/wires, cap and rotor, accessory belt, and oil pan, as well as other things not relevant to the engine (brakes and such).