carl
True Classic
I built up a 1500 motor last winter with a euro cam and the fire ring machined off a US 1500 head. Been sitting in my basement and now since I have entered another one of my "idle hands are the devil's workshop" phases I decided it's time to install it in the Fatrat. Not sure what I'll see as the stock 1500 motor with IDFs and header currently in the car runs soooo sweet.
Anyway, I pulled out the "built" motor and along with my usual tag "NO OIL" was a "valves not adjusted" tag. So I went to do that as it's a whole lot easier to do out of the car. Turns out all the valves had no lash, couldn't get any feeler gauge in there. Tight enough that some of the shims can't be lifted out. Original plan was to loosen the cam box bolts to give enough clearance....but....it actually makes more sense to remove the cam box, remove the fat shims and install skinny shims on all eight buckets, reinstall and THEN start a normal adjustment with too much clearance but plenty of clearance for the shims to come out. All comfortably done in the basement with no timeline and getting plenty of exercise since all my tools are upstairs in the garage.
This timing is stupid as I have a non-running for years 124 spider showing up within the next week and I'll spend all winter getting that back on line. But retired guys have plenty of free time but not enough garage space.
Anyway, I pulled out the "built" motor and along with my usual tag "NO OIL" was a "valves not adjusted" tag. So I went to do that as it's a whole lot easier to do out of the car. Turns out all the valves had no lash, couldn't get any feeler gauge in there. Tight enough that some of the shims can't be lifted out. Original plan was to loosen the cam box bolts to give enough clearance....but....it actually makes more sense to remove the cam box, remove the fat shims and install skinny shims on all eight buckets, reinstall and THEN start a normal adjustment with too much clearance but plenty of clearance for the shims to come out. All comfortably done in the basement with no timeline and getting plenty of exercise since all my tools are upstairs in the garage.
This timing is stupid as I have a non-running for years 124 spider showing up within the next week and I'll spend all winter getting that back on line. But retired guys have plenty of free time but not enough garage space.