Hi, i have a 1986 Camaro I-Roc Z/28 and i recently put new valve springs and gaskets on. And i thought that to adjust the valves you go one whole turn but before i hit that limit the car started to run badly so i backed it off a little bit and put the car together. From then on the car has not ran right, it idles rough, lags a little when i step on it and just runs rough. How do you correctly adjust the valves on the car? Do you simply go the whole turn or is there another way to adjust the valves?

Thanks a lot for any help.

 

1/2 to 3/4 turn from zero lash but you can't find zero lash with the engine running.

 

There are a couple of methods that can be used. (hydraulic lifters only)
If you have a basically stock set-up, (as in a stock or low profile cam) then the way the OEMs do it is the simplest.
With the engine in the #1 firing position (verified when #6 valves are in overlap), the following valves can be adjusted.
Exhaust. 1, 3, 4, 8.
Intake. 1, 2, 5, 7.
Rotate the engine 360° and with #6 cylinder in the firing postion adjust:
Exhaust, 2, 5, 6, 7.
Intake. 3, 4, 6, 8.
Adjustment consists of tightening the adjuster nut until the pushrod can no longer be rotated without some resistance (but not tight). Then after that, each nut is tightened an additional 1/2 - 1 full turn. This adds the pre-load to the lifter. The amount of pre-load is specific to the lifter used. OEMs like as much as 1 full turn. Aftermarket lifters as little as 1/4 turn.
Another popular and messy method is with the engine running. That involves loosening each valve and listening for the tapping that occurs when a gap is created. Tighten the adjuster nut until the clatter stops. The pre-load value is added to that. It can difficult to pick out the "tap tap tap" with the rest of the mechanical noise (at least it is for these old tired ears) but many prefer the running method over the static procedure.
Aftermarket cams with lots of duration present a slightly different problem and these are best adjusted on a cylinder to cylinder basis. That takes a little more time but the results are somewhat more precise.

 

Thanks so much for the help, i should have included in my original post that the car is stock except for some restoration.

 

Search youtube for how-to-vids of setting the valves.