a buddy of mine thinks that when i put my new 350 in that i didnt adjust the valves right....the car needs a new carb and still has the stock lg4 exhaust so i know thats holdin it back but i was wondering if i possibley did set the valves wrong how much power could this be keeping from me...and if we go ahead and readjust them im going to put roller rockers on while the valve covers are off...just curious if this could make a noticeable difference...

 

I recently had the vavles on a new 350 in my car adjusted incorrectly. I had at least 4 maybe 5 to tight. The power was definently off but the idle was also bad and the motor really shook between 1500 and 2300 rpm. It also ran about 20 degrees hotter.

If you do do it while the motor is running using and old valve cover with the top cut out is an excellent way to do it. You may already do it this way but if not you should try it. I read a post on the board somewhere suggesting that and it works great. With just the clips oil still gets everywhere and it causes me at least to rush the job. With that old valve cover with the top cut out I can take my time and the smoke from oil burning off the headers is no longer there.

 

so are you supposed to adjust them with the engine running to start with? oil doesnt shoot out with the top of the valve cover cut out? did you notice any gains in performance after readjusting the valves?

 

Yes adjust them with teh engine running.

I take my whole cover off and no oil shoots out unless I accidently reve the motor, then its everwhere

Yes Very much so.


Back off on each rocker until its chatters (trust me you will know) then tighted until the chatter stops , then turn another 1/2 turn. But do it slow so the lifter can bleed down. The engine will stu,ble and idle will go up and down when doing this so dont worry..

 

sounds like im gonna get to pull my valve covers and stuff back off this weekend.....if i didnt have all these vacuum hoses and emissions crap it would be no big deal but its a pita to get much off the top end of my motor but oh well sounds like it will be worth it...

 

To start with the way you did it without the engine running should work to get it running. And a lot of people beleive if you do it right you don't have to re-adjust. But it doesn't seam to work that way for me. Errors can be made if a lifter bleeds out to much when the engine is not running. With it running you know you are getting it fully pumped up.

I only had one rocker arm/pushrod that was shooting oil out over the top so I just put the deflector on that one, but you could put it on all of them. The main thing the cut valve cover does is keep the oil spilling over the side of the head from spilling out. Deflectors can be used to keep it from shooting out. The angle of the hole should keep it inside though in most cases.

You know, if you are not experiencing any rough idle or other symptoms and you don't hear any loud clacking(to loose) you probably are adjusted correctly. I got quite a performance gain from it but that is because I was way off on more than one valve. If it idles smoothly and runs smoothly in all ranges of rpm then it's probably set right.

 

it doesnt run to smooth, if i give it some gas it hesitates real bad and it i floor it from it a stop it will bog and sometimes die... i know some of the prob is the carb but the valve may have somethin to do with it also...thx for the replies

 

You don't have to adjust them with the car running. It can be done either way. But most prefer to have the engine running.