Valve adjustment

[djohnson602]

Hi everyone!

So I have been picking away at my project for some time now and I am trying to get it to run well enough for more occasional use. I built the motor (original 361) mostly stock with hardened seats and slight cam so I had to check valve adjustment with hydraulic lifters. I think I have gone too conservative on my measurements because I am afraid of hitting a piston and bending the valve train. I went through the process of checking as described from Crane cams but does anyone know of a good tool to use to be more accurate than just marking the pushrods? Or is there a better solution that I may not know about? Please and thank you

 

[khryslerkid]

You could always rotate the engine by hand with just one set of rockers. If you feel any resistance then you know you made contact.

Doing the math, you'll need to know how far down the piston is at tdc. Then know how far the valve comes out of the head, even with the head's surface.

Before installing the heads, mock up the valve train, just the rocker shaft with one set of rockers, place a piece of modeling clay on the piston. Install the head with gasket, just use a few bolts, rotate the engine by hand. Remove head and see if the clay has marks from the valves and measure the clearance.

Give us your combo. Cam, Pistons, What rockers are you useing, adjustable or stamped. Stock stroke?

If you are useing all stock parts, you can use almost a 500 lift cam without any problems. It's worth checking if you're going that big though. Different profiles makes a difference also for valve interference.

 

[69 GTX]

I have found with stock pistons you usually get spring bind before interference with the piston.

 

[lewtot184]

I always clay them.