289 Ford valve adjustment

I am doing a favor for a buddy rebuilding a 289 HP 65 Mustang engine. How do you adjust the valves?? Not solid hyd. My first ever sbf

I know I wanted to put a sbc in it but he said the resale would be bad. LOL

 

Please guys

 

I don't think there is any adjustment on a early sbf you tighten the rockers down to 25ftlbs and thats it but I'm sure i could be wrong but thats how we always do it

 

Thanks been told that is wrong hope sone else replys???

 

some have a shoulder on the rocker stud. You just tighten it down. If it has adjustable rockers, thats a whole different story.

 

i'm interested in finding out the answer to this basically i thought that the ford rail type rockers weren't adjustable i know that the some of the 351w rockers are and we do them just the same as a chevy but whats the answer if thats wrong

 

You can do it with the engine running at idle. Take an old valve cover, and cut the top out of it, leaving the sides intact. Bolt it in place of the stock cover. This is so you can reach the rocker nuts without spraying oil everywhere. With the engine running, you back off each rocker, one at a time, until it clatters or taps, then turn it back until the clatter goes away. Do this for each rocker and you are done. Only for hydraulics though.

 

cool never thought of that thank you sir

 

Thats the way I do it only I just do it w/ the valve cover off. Early non HIPO SBF had stud mount non-adjustable rockers. I believe the book torque spec is in the area of 20-25 ft lbs.

 

you could adjust the valves just like a chevy, but you have to remember the ford firing order is different, and the cylinder numbering is different, get a manual of some type (chiltons will do) to help you.

It really is not rocket surgery.

 

If the rocker stud is straight 3/8 they are adjustable, if the stud is 3/8 with the threads stepped down to 5/16 (the nuts are not "pinched" or "locked" on the non adjustable) then they are non adjustable. I believe Ford went to the non adjustable rocker in '68 or '69. So if they are straight 3/8 adjust them like was mentioned earlier with the engine running, most mechanics will tell you to add 1/2 - 3/4 of a turn after the lifter just quits "clattering".

 

http://www.totalengineairflow.com/tech/valvelash.php

http://www.boxwrench.net/specs/ford_289_302-5.0.htm

 

Flatheadhero and Toymaker are exactly correct...I had to learn how to do that at 17 on my 289 and that's how the old time mechanics told me to do it...back then we didn't have internet!!!