91sleeperRS

i think my valves are tapping in my 305 and the sound is quite annnoying. how much roughly would that cost to get fixed do you think? ive got vortec heads courtesy of the previous owner, so i dont want to ditch the heads, and its really embarassing pulling up to a stop light just ticking away while people stare.any help would be greatly appreciated.

RB83L69

Valves themselves don't tap.

What usually taps, is poorly adjusted rocker arms.

It will cost you a set of valve cover gaskets to adjust them.

As far as paying somebody else to do it, I haven't the vaguest clue how much that would cost; it's not something I would even consider. I'd guess though that you'd probably get hit for about 2-3 hours of shop time at $65-80/hr, plus the $10 set of gaskets, plus whatever else they managed to talk you into getting done at the same time.

F-BIRD'88

Low oil pressure will make the "valves tap" also.

91sleeperRS

i appreciate the advice guys and i think im gonna get a buddy of mine to help and tackle this thing next weekend or so. im stationed on a submarine right now so i have very liitle time, so i'll have to see. my car shut off while pulling into my apartment complex today, and when i finally got it started back up, a guy had said that my rockers were maybe hitting the top of my valve covers and needed to be adjusted. i have aftermarket rockers (also courtesy of previous owner) so im not quite sure of the specs to tighten them though. ive never tackled a job like this before, so i am a little nervous, thats why im gonna enlist (pardon the pun) the help of a friend

305Camaro84

im sorry for the length of this post i just thought with this job i should be very therough. good luck
before you go and ajust your valves i would strongly sugest getting a manual for your car (a haynes manual or somthing) there is a section in this manual that helps you ajust your valves this is what you have to do...
after removing your valve covers make sure piston one is at top dead center... to do this find the notch on your harmonic balancer and make sure it lines up with the notch the last one to right on the series of notches. then to make sure that piston one is at TDC remove the distributor cap and make sure it is pointing to the #1 cylinder (if its not then just rotate the engine 360░ and then you should be set)
to ajust the valve first back off the nut on the rocker untill there is "lash" or you are able to move it up and down back and fourth motion (NOT SIDE TO SIDE) then SLOWLY tighten the nut wiggling the rocker up and down back and fourth motion the moment you can not do this stop and then tighten the nut 3/4 of a turn more
with the #1 cilinder at TDC ajust the folowing valves...
INTAKE
#s 1,2,5,7
EXHAUST
#s 1,3,4,8
then rotate the crankshaft 360░ so piston 6 at TDC ajust the following valves
INTAKE
#s 3,4,6,8
EXHAUST
#s 2,5,6,7
each time you start with a new cylinder at TDC check the distributor to make sure i think i bent a valve because i rotated my enging 720░ instead of 360░ so make sure you have the right cylinder
i hope this can help and good luck with the job

305Camaro84

those boxes next to the numbers are suposed to be degree signs

Mkos1980

iTrader: (8)

Once both valve covers are, I suggest adjusting them with motor running. You can literally get them done in literally 5 minutes doing it this way. Back off rocker till its tapping and then tighten nut till it stops, then do another 1/2 turn and your done.

305Camaro84

now that you mention that my dad said i could of done that and he did that at a shop he worked at.
i just have one question, do you just ajust them in a row or is there a particular order.

91sleeperRS

thanks so much for the advice guys. i would also like to please know the answer to the previous question of what order the rockers need to be tightened in if it matters. if its only one rocker thats the problem, do i still need to adjust the others? i guess the only stupid question is the one not asked. lol

Mkos1980

iTrader: (8)

Just go down the row. No specific order. This is the TRUE method of doing them. When you do tightem them the motor will bog for a few secs each time because it puts a small strain on the lifters so dont be worried. Also dont rev the motor with no valve covers. Oil would be everywhere lol

Mkos1980

iTrader: (8)

No need too but I would for my sake. All rockers would be exact then.

91sleeperRS

so only 1/2 turn on the rockers that dont need it?

Mkos1980

iTrader: (8)

nonono. If you are going to do the ones NOT tapping. You still need to back off the nut till it starts to tap (You'll know) then tighten till it stops. Then go 1/2 turn.

I've seen some stock motors with 2 turns on the nut to no turns to half turns on one head so It just makes sense to do them all and get them all at half turn.

If you did 1/2 turn on the ones not tapping, you may accually be adding 1/2 turn to a nut that already has had a full turn it not more.

91sleeperRS

oh ok i think i finally get it. thanks so much man i appreciate it so much. these boards have been so helpful to me. gonna hopefully get this thing on the road by monday, ill keep everybody posted on how it goes. im also gonna remove my smog pump and get a delete pulley and bracket too. the previous owner simply bolted a piece of metal over where the smog pump pushes the air out and that cant be good since that air has to go somewhere. a little unrelated to this topic i know, but important nonetheless.