There is a great wealth of knowledge and info to be found by the members of this board, and i thank them all for sharing it.

Being mainly a lurker on the forum, I thought that maybe I should contribute a little info. I have read a LOT of posts where improper lash settings(solid cams) or preload setting(hyd cams) cause trouble on start up.

Here is the easiest way to set the valves during a rebuild or a cam swap that i have found.

A good rule of thumb for solid cams is to set the lash 002-.003 looser than specs when cold. Then readjust to mfg specs when engine is at operating temp.

For hyd cams about .030 is a good preload amount (I have heard anywhere from 1/4 to 1 full turn after zero lash for this seting.) I have found a 1/2 turn works well for me. Although this topic is debated more than the airplane on a converter belt.


Bring the engine to top dead center(TDC) for cylinder #1 on compression stroke. Both of the timming marks should be at the 12:00 position or, the timming mark at zero degrees, and the lifters for #1 should both be at the bottom of thier travel in the lifter bores.

Now the engine is in the #1 firing position.


Adjust the intake valves on cyl #s 1,2,5,and 7
Adjust the exhaust valves on cyl #s 1,3,4,and 8

Then rotate the engine 360 degrees so the timing marks are at 12:00 again, or the timming mark is back at zero degrees.

now the engine is in the #6 firing position.

Adjust the Intake valves on cyl #s 3,4,6, and 8
Adjust the exhaust valves on cyl #s 2,5,6, and 7.

This procedure only works on small blocks with a conventional firing order of 18436572.

I have this to be a quick and easy way to set the lash on my motors. And I hope it helps someone out.
If anyone has found an easier way please feel to share.

 

Copy pasted from one of skirklands1980's posts. Never tried it myself, but it seems really quick and easy:

1) Loosen all of the rocker arms.
2) Bring the engine to the TDC mark (doesn't matter if it's on #1 or #6 firing position).
3) Take the slack out of all of the rockers (just take out the slack, nothing more at this point).
4) Rotate the crankshaft 1/2 turn.
5) Take the slack out of any loose rockers (should be 12 of them loose, but check them all).
6) Rotate the crankshaft another 1/2 turn in the same direction (back to TDC).
7) Take the slack out of any loose rockers (should be 8 of them loose, but check them all).
8) Rotate the crankshaft another 1/2 turn in the same direction.
9) Take the slack out of any loose rockers (getting the picture yet? There should be 4 loose, but check them all).
10) Give each rocker one additional full turn down.
11) You're done.

Note: This only works with hydraulic lifters.

Pulling the #1 spark plug and watching for compression as the crank approaches TDC is the "best" way to determine #1 firing position. You can be fooled looking at the rockers.

 

That sure looks familiar. . .