please help, im so pissed. i adjusted my rockers since i have about 4000 miles, i figured since the break in they'd be a little loose. i have a hydraulic flat tappet. i tightened till it had a little resistence turning the pushrod, then a half turn. i made sure they were all on the lobe base circle using the exhaust opening, intake closing method. then i ran it, it ran crappy. popping in the exhaust and wouldnt go about like 500 rpms. just idles at like 100 barely holding on. so i pull the covers thinking i got them to tight. loosen each a 1/4 turn, put them back on and it stays idling at like 110 rpms and it will rev all the way up, but it is crappy. i would try to tune it with the covers off but i cant get the SOB running worth a damn to try. any suggestions would be great. some of the rockers still wiggle around when on the base circle. the exhaust manifold will get really hot right away too. i adjusted them with a cold engine.

 

You're going to have to set them up with the motor running.
Get a friend to work the throttle to keep it running.
Lossen them all off about another 3/4 turn. to start.
Do one side at a time. back off a rocker and let it fill the lifter with oil. Clacking. now adjust it till the clacking JUST GOES AWAY.
Do all the rest just like that. When you're done that shut it off.
and tighten each rocker 1/2 turn to preload the lifter.
Sounds like ya got one or more too tight.

 

if you can't see the lifter it might be spinning as well as the push rod, so you've went too far.

 

What both of those guys just said...

Use the method f-bird suggested, it's the same way I do to a "running" motor; has no hoice but to work perfect.

 

does it have to be a certain rpms to do it running. i dont have the clips that keep the oil in. if i do it at low enough rpm, it shouldnt fly to bad. will i be able to tell which one is clacking. the other seven on each side will probly be making some noise as well. thanks for the info, i'll check it out tomarrow

 

No particular RPMs. You're right, the lower the better, shoot for like 600 or so. You'll be able to tell which one is making noise, it'll be real obvious. Don't worry about it.

 

sounds good. ill let you know how it goes. thanks again.

 

my car runs good now. it went great. thanks again. now i just need to borrow a timing light.