Valve clearance adjustment?

petex19

petex19

True Classic
Can valve clearance be adjusted on a bench with the head and cam box removed from the car?
Also can the shims be removed from the buckets on the bench or only installed in the head using the special tool?
 
Yes, valve clearance can be set/adjusted with the "top end" of car. Procedure is much the same as in car adjustment. There is the option of on/off cam housing for adjusting valve clearances.

In many ways, off car is easier to adjust valve clearances.

Bernice
 
Rupunzell said:
Yes, valve clearance can be set/adjusted with the "top end" of car. Procedure is much the same as in car adjustment. There is the option of on/off cam housing for adjusting valve clearances.

In many ways, off car is easier to adjust valve clearances.

Bernice
Click to expand...
On/off cam housing? Don't follow? Does that mean on/off the block?
 
petex19 said:
On/off cam housing? Don't follow? Does that mean on/off the block?
Click to expand...
Cylinder head, cam housing, valve cover is off the block. All that is on the bench to be worked on.
Cam timing can be easily set with the cam housing & cam on the bench by applying a degree wheel, dial indicator inside the cam follower.

Cam housing gasket does compress, once compressed the gasket is mostly stable. Alternative is to use anaerobic sealer (no gasket) which is common on modern engines.


Bernice
 
Rupunzell said:
Cylinder head, cam housing, valve cover is off the block. All that is on the bench to be worked on.
Cam timing can be easily set with the cam housing & cam on the bench by applying a degree wheel, dial indicator inside the cam follower.

Cam housing gasket does compress, once compressed the gasket is mostly stable. Alternative is to use anaerobic sealer (no gasket) which is common on modern engines.


Bernice
Click to expand...
Thank you for the information. Different discussion but since you mentioned degreeing the cam. If the cam pulley(Miller's mule adjustable) wasn't removed from the cam when pulling the head then can the cam be put back to aligned with TDC mark on timing belt cover pointer and installed back on the head as it came off?
 
Rupunzell said:
Cylinder head, cam housing, valve cover is off the block. All that is on the bench to be worked on.
Cam timing can be easily set with the cam housing & cam on the bench by applying a degree wheel, dial indicator inside the cam follower.

Cam housing gasket does compress, once compressed the gasket is mostly stable. Alternative is to use anaerobic sealer (no gasket) which is common on modern engines.


Bernice
Click to expand...
When adjusting valve clearance on the bench, would you just not put the paper cam box gasket or use the gasket and then have to replace it when you actually assemble engine in the car?
 
petex19 said:
When adjusting valve clearance on the bench, would you just not put the paper cam box gasket or use the gasket and then have to replace it when you actually assemble engine in the car?
Click to expand...
You need to have the gasket in place as you do this, as it affects valve clearance.
 
petex19 said:
Can the paper gasket be used again when doing engine assembly on the block?
Click to expand...
I think if you could get one of those maddeningly flimsy cambox gaskets to survive one installation that qualifies you as a master mechanic---if you could get it to survive installation-removal-installation, then move over Scotty, you get promoted to Chief Engineer of the Starship Enterprise. :p


 
On my 1300, I was always able to reuse the cambox gasket. It actually seemed to get better with time and developed a bit of patina. It survived having to swap cams every two years for CA emission testing plus testing ~5 different cams. The motor is now toast but that gasket is still good. Never had a leak.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top