Tech / General Engine Is your car making a strange sound or won't start? Thinking of adding power with a new combination? Need other technical information or engine specific advice? Don't see another board for your problem? Post it here!

Valve Preload/Solid Lifter Clarification

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 08-12-2008, 07:00 AM
  #1  
Senior Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
BOSS 357's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: RVA
Posts: 629
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 89RS,89TBI FB, 91Z28, 89TPI FORMULA
Engine: 357 SBC TPI
Transmission: World Class T-5 (for now)
Axle/Gears: Strange 12-bolt 3.73
Valve Preload/Solid Lifter Clarification

I've been researching a couple of measurements I'll need to make during this head swap. FYI, I run a hydraulic cam/lifter setup. Please calrify a couple things:

-if I use the "clay on the piston" method to measure the PTV clearance, how do I measure the clay? Is that with a dial indicator?

-the lifters I have will not be replaced during this swap and the engine will be cold. Is there any priming or whatever that I need to do to the lifters to measure pushrod length?

-should i use the solid lifter (the one I will use to measure PTV clear) to measure the pushrod length or should I use the hydraulic one already in the engine?

-I've seen the EOIC method of valve preload, one cylinder at a time. My Chilton manual uses a method that by setting #1 to TDC, I can do like 4 intake valves and 4 exhaust valves. Then rotate to #6 TDC and do the rest. Does the Chilton method apply to my hydraulic setup? Is one method more accurate than the other?

Thanks again..
Eric
Old 08-12-2008, 10:42 AM
  #2  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (1)
 
Sonix's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Calgary, AB, Canada
Posts: 10,763
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Car: 1982 Trans-Am
Engine: 355 w/ ported 416s
Transmission: T10, hurst shifter
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt, true-trac, 3.73
Re: Valve Preload/Solid Lifter Clarification

ok, seriously give us some information hey? You have what, 4 cars? Which one are you talking about here?!?
Hydraulic WHAT? Hydraulic ROLLER, or flat tappet??!? I'm assuming roller here, but c'mon cough up the information already!

1) Clay - you cut it in half, and pull it off the piston and measure it with your calipers. You'll basically have a cross section. Measure the thinnest part. Probably the valve relief area.

2) no

3) won't matter. the spring inside the lifter holds it in place anyway. If you want you can buy a single solid roller lifter to play with.

4) Use EOIC. The chilton method is good enough for LAME factory grinds with no overlap, not any kind of aggressive aftermarket grind.

Good luck!
Old 08-12-2008, 11:35 AM
  #3  
Senior Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
BOSS 357's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: RVA
Posts: 629
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 89RS,89TBI FB, 91Z28, 89TPI FORMULA
Engine: 357 SBC TPI
Transmission: World Class T-5 (for now)
Axle/Gears: Strange 12-bolt 3.73
Re: Valve Preload/Solid Lifter Clarification

Sorry Sonix. I only have 1 car, the other 3 have taken their leave of me.

My car is a 355 TPI, hydraulic roller tappet & lifters.
Old 08-12-2008, 06:42 PM
  #4  
Guest
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Re: Valve Preload/Solid Lifter Clarification

Dont cut the clay. Use the depth gauge end of a micrometer (thats the small pointy thing off the back side) and push it into the clay until it contacts the piston where you think its the least clearance. Then slide the mic down until it contacts the face of the clay where its not deformed from the end of the mic, and use that number.

The Chilton's method is fine. Most people forget that even a cam with 360 degrees duration has 180 degrees on the cam thats on the base circle. Thats why there is nothing wrong with doing it that way unless your cam timing is way out of whack. Even with a Nascar cam.
Old 08-12-2008, 06:44 PM
  #5  
Moderator

 
Apeiron's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Mercedes Norte, Heredia, Costa Rica
Posts: 20,981
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes on 8 Posts
Car: 1984 Z28 Hardtop
Engine: 383 Carb
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 3.54 Dana 44
Re: Valve Preload/Solid Lifter Clarification

Originally Posted by madmax
Use the depth gauge end of a micrometer (thats the small pointy thing off the back side)
I think you mean a caliper.
----------
Originally Posted by madmax
The Chilton's method is fine.
The Chilton's method has you set the lash in only 2 cam positions. You can easily have a cam that's on the ramps on some valves in those two positions.

Last edited by Apeiron; 08-12-2008 at 07:02 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
Old 08-12-2008, 09:06 PM
  #6  
Guest
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Re: Valve Preload/Solid Lifter Clarification

I know what the Chiltons method is... who stole it from GM anyway. Draw it up, mark out valve timing events and locations, and see for yourself. When you have the engine in one position, at least half the valves are completely shut, even with 360 degrees advertised duration. I dont think anyone here is running much past 310 if that, giving you a rather large margin of error. Then 180 out, you get the other half. As I said, Chiltons method is fine.

You're right, dial caliper is what I use.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
tyeo098
Tech / General Engine
38
11-30-2015 06:27 PM
codeysabatini
Engine/Drivetrain/Suspension Parts for Sale
5
11-10-2015 04:07 PM
355tpipickup
Tech / General Engine
9
09-13-2015 11:35 PM
sandman92084
Tech / General Engine
13
09-12-2015 10:27 PM
dimented24x7
Tech / General Engine
4
09-06-2015 03:51 PM



Quick Reply: Valve Preload/Solid Lifter Clarification



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:48 PM.