since my last post about breaking in a cam, now she's done..... so time to adjust the valves, and get the timing set up correctly. I've done it before, but lets get some tips/tricks going, help me/the HAMB out. what do you recomend, suggest.... FWIW, i'm doing it on a 350 SBC with a Compcams 268 extreme energy cam, hyd liftes....
No play and 1/4 turn. The tighter you make 'em the less rev potential. But 1/8 turn is too loose, go ahead ask me how I know.
with the engine off but wartmed up make sure the valves your adjusting are closed and I like to twist the pushrod between my fingers as I am tightening once its pretty firm I give it a good 1/4 to 1/2 turn more
Perfect You got it... My father and Jack Conley From Conleys speed shop in brighton michigan ( or as my dad called it speedy's con shop)figured that out years ago.. Turn em till they dont click then 1/4 turn. Max hp that way... I like your thinking Dave.................
Quick and dirty method (hydraulic lifters only) for ***embly, at the track, etc. #1TDC set exhaust valves 1,3,4,8 and intake 12,5,7 rotate engine 1 turn set exhaust valves 2,5,6,7 and intakes 3,4,6,8 1/4 turn past no clatter for max performance when engine running
yup. Do NOT try to adjust them by turning the pushrods to see if they're adjusted right, you'll get them down too tight.
So, my best bet is warm up motor, tighten them till there is no play. Since the motor has run, lifters are pumped up, and then give them an extra 1/4 turn and done?
Yup. You'll have to loosen them first to get play, then tighten them to zero play, then 1/4 or 1/2 turn tighter. If it were me, I would have adjusted them properly before starting the engine, and I'd just leave them alone now because I'm lazy...but I don't know what happened on your particular engine wehn it was ***embled.
Actually it was just recamed, and new intake...did it as i have in the past, but since the lifters were new to, we made our best estimate....little valve noise, but needed a starting point to get it to fire for cam break in.
i've got a set of valvecovers i cut out..and i run the motor.back up till you hear the tick.then down till it quiets.then add 1/4 turn.real quick,guarantees you dont have a lifter on the ramp of a lobe.and it's fun to watch the rockers while it's runnin.kinda like a 'how it's made' episode
What everyone else said. Get you a set of clips that slip over top of rockers to keep from squirting all over, I have a set used for 30 plus years, work well. In combination with cut out valve covers very little mess. When ***embling new I always use the order listed in other reply, set them to where pushrod just starts to depress then back off to where does not depress. Thats a good satarting point, won't have clatter during breakin, then set them running after breakin, timing set etc. Then I drive the **** out of it, start pulling studs, wish I had pinned them or used screw in studs, and have to adjust them regularly. Never said I wasn't a dumb***..
A heads up on the extreme energy line of cams is that even when the valves are adjusted correctly they still may sound loose or have a slight tapping sound. I have had three of these cams in both big and small block Chevrolets and it drove me nuts at first. After looking into it and speaking with Comp, it appears that this occurs due to the very quick closing rate of the exhaust valve. This is one of the reasons that these cams (compared to the old Magnum line) produce so much more torque (cylinder pressure) with relatively small amount of lift. Great cam choice for torque by the way and it ought to be fun on the street!
gofaster..... THANKS! got everything adjusted good, but there was a little noise, so repeat adjustment....shame ****, but with that wonderful bit of info, i'm done....now off to timing issues....or adjustments. BTW, that cam is making for a fun wagon....
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