I know this topic has been covered before, but I some specific questions. I recently saved a '54 Customline that has 223/3-spd combo. It's been sitting since 1978 so I decided to pull the head and go through the motor. It's a 1963 223 (was swapped for the original at some point) so it has the later 1961-'64 "Silent Rockers". How do I adjust them correctly. I know the specs, I just can't find any reference at all as to HOW to set them..... Thanks! ~Mr. ModelT
The Silent Lash system, one of Ford's better Rube Goldberg contraptions. If you really want to keep it I'd suggest picking up an early sixties Ford car shop manual with the Silent Lash information in it. Or, since you're going into the engine you might consider replacing the head, or at least the valve train. Maybe pick up a 1959 & earlier 223 head with the two center bolt holes. Then you could run the cool Offy cast and finned valve cover on it. Good luck. -Dave
From motor's manual Piston at tdc push eccentric toward rocker until plunger is completely into it's rocker bore. Turn adjuster in until eccentric and plunger is held in the depressed position. Slowly turn adjusting screw out until adjustment mark on eccentric is centered over the valve stem and lock adjuster repeat on all cylinders. After rockers have been adjusted start engine and let idle observe marks and adjust as necessary to center mark over valve stem
The reason those motors were so noisy is the excessive clearance they are supposed to be set at,I am thinking its .018 intake and exhaust. I was working on one and was going to experiment with setting them a little tighter but never got around to doing it.
@junkyardjeff did you ever try this? I’d like to quiet down the valvetrain on my 223 if possible. Tomorrow I’ll readjust the valves using a dial indicator instead of a feeler gage and see if that makes any difference. If not, I may snug them down a bit more.
I adjusted the valve lash down from .019” to .014” and they didn’t get any quieter. All the gaps were in spec or very close before making the change. I wouldn’t say it’s loud I just don’t understand why the .019” spec is so loose. I’d like to hear from someone who has more experience with solid lifters and see if there are other engines that have tighter tolerances. Otherwise I’ll likely set them back to spec.
Really good article right here. Sounds like a few heavy hitters chimed in. https://www.speed-talk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=29717
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