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valve lash question

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Old Apr 27, 2011 | 04:51 PM
  #1  
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Car: 1991 Trans Am GTA
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valve lash question

I have a question that will sound pretty newbish and I think I know the answer to it, but I just want to make absolutely sure.
Should I be able to spin my pushrods at any time after valve lash is set? I ask because I have a clicking on the drivers side that I've had since I put the superram on (at least thats the first time I ever noticed it) and when we did it we had to take a few rockers off and reinstall them when done. I assumed I just didn't get one quite tight enough, so today I decided to finally fix it and when I took the valve cover off I have 3 pushrods right off the bat I can spin without even moving the crank or doing anything and the worst one is one I didn't even take loose.
So what's going on here guys? Worn cam lobes? Lifters? Rockers?
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Old Apr 27, 2011 | 04:57 PM
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From: Mercedes Norte, Heredia, Costa Rica
Car: 1984 Z28 Hardtop
Engine: 383 Carb
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 3.54 Dana 44
Re: valve lash question

Originally Posted by budfreak1
Should I be able to spin my pushrods at any time after valve lash is set?
Probably
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Old Apr 27, 2011 | 05:00 PM
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From: Toronto, Ohio
Car: 1991 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 355
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 4th gen 10 bolt 3.42 posi
Re: valve lash question

Originally Posted by Apeiron
Probably
I don't understand how though. If you set them when the cam is at zero lift and you tighten them until you can't spin the pushrod and then put another 1/4 to 1/2 turn on it to preload it, how the hell can you spin the pushrods afterwards???
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Old Apr 27, 2011 | 05:07 PM
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From: Mercedes Norte, Heredia, Costa Rica
Car: 1984 Z28 Hardtop
Engine: 383 Carb
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 3.54 Dana 44
Re: valve lash question

You don't tighten them until you can't spin it, that's way too much. The contact area is very small, the surfaces are polished, and everything's covered in oil... there's not enough friction to stop them from turning at zero lash.
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Old Apr 27, 2011 | 05:15 PM
  #5  
budfreak1's Avatar
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From: Toronto, Ohio
Car: 1991 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 355
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 4th gen 10 bolt 3.42 posi
Re: valve lash question

Originally Posted by Apeiron
You don't tighten them until you can't spin it, that's way too much. The contact area is very small, the surfaces are polished, and everything's covered in oil... there's not enough friction to stop them from turning at zero lash.
Ah I see. I checked out the site where I got the instructions from. Not sure where I came up with tighten it until it stopped spinning.
Either way though, I have a pushrod I can grab and move it enough to actually make the clicking noise and it is one I never took off. Is something wearing out? Should I go through and adjust them all?
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Old Apr 27, 2011 | 06:12 PM
  #6  
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From: Mercedes Norte, Heredia, Costa Rica
Car: 1984 Z28 Hardtop
Engine: 383 Carb
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 3.54 Dana 44
Re: valve lash question

Is the clicking coming from up-and-down movement, or side-to-side movement?
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Old Apr 27, 2011 | 06:16 PM
  #7  
budfreak1's Avatar
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From: Toronto, Ohio
Car: 1991 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 355
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 4th gen 10 bolt 3.42 posi
Re: valve lash question

I was thinking it might be up and down, but I went out and checked real quick and it is only side to side on the ones I can spin.
What is a good way to find the one that is causing the clicking?
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Old Apr 27, 2011 | 06:21 PM
  #8  
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From: Mercedes Norte, Heredia, Costa Rica
Car: 1984 Z28 Hardtop
Engine: 383 Carb
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 3.54 Dana 44
Re: valve lash question

Lash them all with the engine running.
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Old Apr 27, 2011 | 06:23 PM
  #9  
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From: Toronto, Ohio
Car: 1991 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 355
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 4th gen 10 bolt 3.42 posi
Re: valve lash question

Ok, so basically go through and one at a time loosen them until they click and then tighten them until they don't? will this spray oil everywhere?
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Old Apr 27, 2011 | 06:42 PM
  #10  
Apeiron's Avatar
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From: Mercedes Norte, Heredia, Costa Rica
Car: 1984 Z28 Hardtop
Engine: 383 Carb
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 3.54 Dana 44
Re: valve lash question

Oil deflector clips for the rocker arms and a set of old valve covers with the tops cut out will keep that from happening.
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Old Apr 27, 2011 | 06:52 PM
  #11  
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From: Littleton, CO USA
Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
Engine: L92/LQ4 (both w/4" stroke)
Transmission: 4L80E/4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
Originally Posted by budfreak1
Ok, so basically go through and one at a time loosen them until they click and then tighten them until they don't?
Then give it one more full turn down. You'll probably have to do that slowly to keep the engine from dieing, as the lifter needs to "adjust" a little with each cycle, and you can turn them down faster than they can adjust.

Originally Posted by budfreak1
will this spray oil everywhere?
Not everywhere. Just on the exhaust manifolds...
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Old Apr 27, 2011 | 06:55 PM
  #12  
Apeiron's Avatar
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From: Mercedes Norte, Heredia, Costa Rica
Car: 1984 Z28 Hardtop
Engine: 383 Carb
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 3.54 Dana 44
Re: valve lash question

Or the fenders, if you've got the oil pressure.
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