Valve Lash better late than never ? ? ?

[sals54]

OK, call me lazy. I've been driving my 54 Coupe for years. Its been in several different itterations through the decades. Now its sort of in the RatRod stage. Its in flat black with red steelies and slammed. ( Dick S., I've put in 3" lowering blocks since you saw it ). R1 powered with a 4 speed, dual exhaust with 2 stage Flowmasters with dumps at the rear axle. So its also loud. Just the way I love it. After all, I'm just a kid, so I still like to drive a real hot rod. ( at 53, my wife says I still act like a kid, anyway ) In recent years I've gotten a bit lax about tune-ups. OK, so its been five years since the last one.
So, anyhoo, I decide to give the animal a tune up after five years of burnouts, hard shifts, high speed runs, too many 6000 rpm shifts.... well, you get the picture, right? Besides, its time to teach my son how to do a proper tune-up. In go the plugs, points, condenser, rotor, cap and now to the valve adjustment. # 1 @ TDC and off we go. Hmmmm all the valves are still adjusted correctly. Now to # 6 to TDC. Hmmmmm all these valves are still in adjustment. Go figure. So we buttoned it back up with some new gaskets and some cool new sealing washers that don't leak and do the carb and timing and BAM.... runs like a Champ.
I guess the solution to keeping valves in proper adjustment is to run the c**p out it for as long as you can and don't take any prisoners. Then again, maybe its just dumb luck ? ! ? ! ?

[Harvey]

Did you check the adjustment cold or hot and running?

[62SY4]

quote:
"So we buttoned it back up with some new gaskets and some cool new sealing washers that don't leak and do the carb and timing and BAM.... runs like a Champ"

And to think I wish my Champ would run like an R1[]

[Chicken Hawk]

Same exprience I've had Sal.

Ted

quote:Originally posted by sals54

OK, call me lazy. I've been driving my 54 Coupe for years. Its been in several different itterations through the decades. Now its sort of in the RatRod stage. Its in flat black with red steelies and slammed. ( Dick S., I've put in 3" lowering blocks since you saw it ). R1 powered with a 4 speed, dual exhaust with 2 stage Flowmasters with dumps at the rear axle. So its also loud. Just the way I love it. After all, I'm just a kid, so I still like to drive a real hot rod. ( at 53, my wife says I still act like a kid, anyway ) In recent years I've gotten a bit lax about tune-ups. OK, so its been five years since the last one.
So, anyhoo, I decide to give the animal a tune up after five years of burnouts, hard shifts, high speed runs, too many 6000 rpm shifts.... well, you get the picture, right? Besides, its time to teach my son how to do a proper tune-up. In go the plugs, points, condenser, rotor, cap and now to the valve adjustment. # 1 @ TDC and off we go. Hmmmm all the valves are still adjusted correctly. Now to # 6 to TDC. Hmmmmm all these valves are still in adjustment. Go figure. So we buttoned it back up with some new gaskets and some cool new sealing washers that don't leak and do the carb and timing and BAM.... runs like a Champ.
I guess the solution to keeping valves in proper adjustment is to run the c**p out it for as long as you can and don't take any prisoners. Then again, maybe its just dumb luck ? ! ? ! ?

[sals54]

I checked the lash while the motor was off and "cold". But cold actually means at or about 65-75 degrees. I had driven the car earlier and had let it sit till the engine temp was around the 65-75 range. I have in the distant past done it running while hot and had not had any better results than doing it this way. Not to mention the mess... and I have one of the cutout valve covers. I know the purists would say to turn each valve till the cam is opposite each tappet, but this way works so well, why change?
Ted, I don't know if my meager exploits behind the wheel can match the "experience" you are putting your car through. JK

[Roscomacaw]

All I can say is YUP! And I confess - I'm AS BAD as Sal when it comes to tune-ups[8] Thing is, it don't seem to matter.[^]
I put this new engine in Pete back in February. I'm thinkin' maybe this comin' February - maybe, mind you - I should check my valves (cold, as always, of course) to see how many of them have sunk into their seats.[:I]

Miscreant adrift in
the BerStuda Triangle


1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe