318 valve adjustments

[RoadWarrior]

Just curious if anyone has the specs for adjusting the valves on a 318. Still breaking it in and the driver side is starting to "slap". Should I adjust with feeler gauge or just tighten while moving the rod until it stops moving up and down? Many years ago we used a feeler gauge and tightened the lifters on a slant 6 while it was running. Something I've seen done a few times, but never on a V8. Searched the site but couldn't really find the info I needed. Thanks!

 

[YY1]

Uh, 318 should have hydraulic lifters. No adjustment needed.

Are you sure there is oild getting to the valvetrain on that side?

 

[67 B-body]

Is this an aftermarket "solid" camshaft? If so, the manufacture of the cam defines your valve lash. If it's hydraulic then you should have Zero lash. Are you sure you have adjustable rocker arms?

 

[RoadWarrior]

no, all stock. Hmm, well maybe I better check the oil then. I actually suspect that the oil in there is to thin. I will switch to a thicker oil and see whats up. I thought it had adjustable rockers.

 

[YY1]

I seem to remember something about being easy to get the rocker shaft upside down, which basically blocks off the oil holes?

Does this sound right to anyone else?

 

[67 B-body]

I seem to remember something about being easy to get the rocker shaft upside down, which basically blocks off the oil holes?

Does this sound right to anyone else?

thats correct......

 

[RoadWarrior]

Well it is only one side so that would make perfect sense. If I survive my large family the next few days I'll let you know what I find. Thanks guys!

 

[WP29440SE]

after time the rocker arms wear and create a lash as well, thus creating a tick. i had a 360 that had a was ticking on one side and i replaced the lifters and oil pump thinking that they were worn out and after getting it back together it still had the ticking. come to find out the arms and shafts were worn out...just a thought..

 

[RoadWarrior]

well I finally got a chance to check this out. It appears that there is oil getting up there just fine. Rockers on both sides still had oil sitting in them so the "ticking" side is getting oil. I noticed the rockers slide side to side slightly if I push on them. Is this normal? I can't adjust anything to fix this. I haven't tried to see if maybe the rocker shaft is upside down only because oil seems to flow fine. I even added a heavier wieght. Still ticks though. The only time I can't hear it is when I let off the gas after accelerating. There is no load thus no "ticking". As soon as I stop it ticks again at idle and when I give it gas.

My only guess is the rockers and/or lifters are worn. If thats the case there might be a bigger problem since this is a new engine. Can't imagine them wearing out after 1000 miles (if that).

Any more ideas before I start spending money?

 

[Meep-Meep]

To me it sounds like you need to check your push rod length for proper lifter preload. You probably don't have enough. To do this you need an adjustable push rod and a lifter that hasn't been pumped up with oil to get the full plunger travel, or you can find zero lash and dial in one full turn on a 3/8-24 thread (.0416" per turn) to get the final push rod length. You can order custom push rods from Smith Bros. in Oregon.

 

[RoadWarrior]

I'll look into that. Also anyone have photos of their stock rocker arms and shaft? I am thinking maybe the rocker arm spacers where put back wrong because like I said, the rocker arms slide side to side really easily on the noisy side, but not the other side. I'll have to take another look. To dark out now.

 

[RoadWarrior]

So here is a photo of the spacer, and a photo of two rockers together and apart. You can see how much they slide side to side. Is this normal?

 

[Cranky]

No, that's not normal. Looks like to me the hold down clamps were modified for aftermarket rocker arms....and it looks like some of the shaft bolts don't have any clamps on them....?

 

[cdr]

?

you may have some rocker problems but from your description of noise,sounds like an exhaust leak at the manifold ie tic tic tic when your on the gas

 

[Cranky]

Looking closer, I see clamps under the bolts but they look like the tabs have been ground off. That's a common deal for aftermarket rockers. Did the shafts and clamps come from another engine or was this one modified at some point?

 

[RoadWarrior]

Looking closer, I see clamps under the bolts but they look like the tabs have been ground off. That's a common deal for aftermarket rockers. Did the shafts and clamps come from another engine or was this one modified at some point?

Can't really say. All I know is the guy before me had a guy rebuild it. MY fear is if the rockers are moving around that much then there is more friction and "metal grinding" then there needs to be. Or worse, metal grounds forming and flowing through everything. I would feel better getting new "stock" rockers and shaft. Any companies you recommend? I have stock cam with stock lift so nothing fancy.

 

[RoadWarrior]

... or maybe just new clamps. All I really want is for the rockers to stop sliding around.

 

[YY1]

Good, news is that you can stil find LA 318's in salvage yards, and parts are cheap.

Just a stupid/simple troubleshooting procedure, but, A- what does the other side look like, and B you could swap them side to side, and see if the tick followed the shaft/rockers to the other side.

x2 on the exhaust leak as well. I've had one that I would have sworn was rocker/lifter related.

 

[RoadWarrior]

The other side looks the same, no sounds. Didn't think to swap them though. Great idea. gonna give it a go. But after messing around I think you guys are right about the exhaust leak. I've had one before but not that loud.

 

[Cranky]

It still looks like you need to replace the hold down clamps anyways. I would also look at the rockers, shafts and push rods for wear. These are a wear item too and should be replaced during a rebuild....