rocker adjustment

[Davemc1963]

Re: rocker adjustment

Sounds like that you have either set the valve clearances at a point other than at 'true' tdc, (slipped balancer) or you have set them too tight. You need to set them like Don W explained in post 31. If trying to adjust after the pushrod just stops rotating freely can be difficult unless you are experienced.

Often, lifters will bleed down and the only resistance left within the lifter is the very light spring within it. Then, in this case, the only time you feel resistance to rotating the pushrod is when you have bottomed out the plunger. Then you will add another turn on top of this, resulting in the valve being held open. If you adjust 1 full turn down after the pushrod just stops 'moving up and down, you will be ok.

One turn from zero lash puts a stock lifter pretty much in the centre of its travel. Others do less. One turn down works for me and is nice and quiet.

 

[wildphil]

Re: rocker adjustment

Read this:

http://www.compcams.com/Instructions/Files/COMP4-140.pdf

1 tells you not to pump up your lifters.
4 Tells you how to adjust your pre-load. There are several ways. But this works well. You can't mess up. I have done it this way many times. The way the manual shows doing it is the fastest. But I just like doing it this way.

You will not have to worry about your balancer or distributor being off to set your pre-load. But you need to have your distributor in correctly and know that you have a mark on your balancer at top dead center on #1 cylinder to set the timing correctly.

 

[Slyclone]

Re: rocker adjustment

Hey everyone good news, truck just started after going over the timing and dist. Again. Spun it around to 2nd white mark and attempted to drop dist. In.

After the third time it appeared to be correct.

What I was doing wrong was not tighten the dist hold down a little tight. It was moving durning cranking. After I re adjusted and tightened it fired right up. Sounds pretty awesome right??

Valve train sounded quiet.. What a bonus... No klak like diesel.


Sad thing is it started to smoke white real bad again and I'm back to square one. :tdown:

Pulled dipstick look like more coolant some where some how.

 

[Don W.]

Re: rocker adjustment

Yup. What Comp is doing is making sure that the valve being adjusted is fully on the base circle of the cam. Which is very important especially if you have cam with a lot of overlap. It does require turning the engine over a number of times. The advantage is it doesn't matter what the number of cyls is or the firing order.

Your second comment is probably why this thing won't run. TDC compression, ie firing, must be determined and then the dist set to be firing whatever wire is going to #1 and the remainder inserted in firing order. Rotor position doesn't matter as long as you use -that- position as #1.

 

[Couger1968]

Re: rocker adjustment

How long did you run it, and was the oil fresh? Can water get into the oil if your radiator is bad(oil cooler leaking) just guessing? I don't think that would cause white smoke though. Could be leftover moisture in the exhaust possibly if you filled the mufflers guessing again

 

[Slyclone]

Re: rocker adjustment

Ran for about 4-5 minutes. Went to get out and turn the distributor and dial it in it sounded good and idled fine a few turns here/there on the distributor to idle it down. I went to grab my timing gun and as soon as it was in hand it started to smoke white real bad.

I replaced the radiator. Its new.

Smoked for a minute before I decided to turn it off. Thought it could be some coolant but the way it's looking now it's got to be a lot causing it.

 

[Couger1968]

Re: rocker adjustment

I would not think running it that long would let it build any pressure. I never had a crack in anything to know, but I would think if it leaked that soon you would have a noticeable crack somewhere. I don't know what to tell you, running with water in the oil will take out the bearings, but if it were me and I had fresh oil I would run it till it got to operational temperature and saw what happened. Another guess can the turbo let coolant into oil?

 

[wildphil]

Re: rocker adjustment

You say you pulled the dip stick and it looks like it has been leaking cool, Did the oil look milky in color?

 

[Slyclone]

Re: rocker adjustment

You say you pulled the dip stick and it looks like it has been leaking cool, Did the oil look milky in color?

10-4 Phil. It had a milky color to it.

 

[wildphil]

Re: rocker adjustment

It sounds like you pulled the heads. You did put new gaskets in if you did. Right?

If you didn't have the heads off. I would suspect something happened when you reinstalled the intake manifold. But it could be several things causing the coolant to get into the oil. like head bolts that go into water jackets sealed properly, a crack in the head, and a few other things.Some of the intake manifold bolts need to be sealed that go into water jackets also.

I am sorry you are having so many problems with the truck. But you are learning new things. And that is a good thing.

 

[Slyclone]

Re: rocker adjustment

Pulled the heads yes.

Truck overheated. I thought the head gaskets went. I put new gaskets on. I'm afraid I skipped a step and didn't thoroughly check heads for cracks. Some info I discover after the fact I was all bolted back together. Something about the valve seat or valve area being cracked in my readings... Found out the truck has l35 heads and if overheat they prone to crack?

I did buy the white permatex PTFE sealant to install on all the head studs. I put rtv on only a few of the lower intake bolts.. Ones that looks like coolant flowed in them. Mainly both front ones.

Wouldn't have a clue where the coolant is coming from. The system isn't completely full either. It just started to bellow white.

I'm not sure if I have to take everything back apart and have the block and heads go in to a shop for further inspection or just find a new motor?

 

[wildphil]

Re: rocker adjustment

I would start with the intake manifold. You may get lucky and it just didn't seal properly.

 

[Slyclone]

Re: rocker adjustment

Took a break from truck. Spoke with my dad today about the condition I was experience and he suggested I just run the truck longer and heat it up more.

He tried to explain to me that when the coolant entered the system, it went into the exhaust most likely. Not only was I draining the shit from my oil but it was most likely dumping into the exhaust as well.

He says the cat. It probably full and the muffler too of coolant. We had a little pow wow discussion for about a half hour and determined this smoke and all might just be the stuff starting to burn off. I of course panicked from the start but time has passed I got the rocker adjustments right. Timing is now on. Just smoking white. I didn't run the truck long before because I thought it was back to flooding into the engine. Causing more damage.

Any outside thoughts?

 

[Couger1968]

Re: rocker adjustment

Did you try it again? I didn't quite understand if you actually did. I am checking my intake bolts now after I ran it a while with the blue gaskets. It has been taking maybe another 1/8 of a turn to get them back to 35#. They may have loosened a hair after about 2000 miles. I don't know. I could have been off a little on torque before.

 

[Slyclone]

Re: rocker adjustment

Yeah, I did put new blue intake gaskets on was a week or so ago, lost track. Got heavily involved in a big job and truck sat. But I got a chance to start truck in front of my dad and he kinda knew what was up. Later on I talked to him about it and his theory makes sense. I didn't put too much thought into it just hit the panic button when the smoke shit started right after a few hours under the hood.

Dave your story so funny.

I been trying to get my fly by night mechanic buddy to stop over but I might just be buying one of the testers..... I know exactly what it is and would solve a lot of my guessing and taking stuff apart. I do have a compression tester for cylinders but its such a piece of junk I might be buying one of them too. Every time I try to get my friend to slide by he's always busy. His antics been going on for a while now and that's why I moved forward with my own work.

I'm hoping to take it for a ride some time. Now, would be ideal because its dark and any severe smoke wouldn't be noticed. I would just be doing a few laps around my neighborhood but just don't have it in me right now

 

[Don W.]

Re: rocker adjustment

If the radiator is topped off correctly (whole 'nother topic) and you go driving watch the temp ga. Also check water level when you get back. Assuming it hasn't over heated. Running correctly it shouldn't use any water. There will a very slight loss from the header tank from evaporation but that's it. The rad should stay full at all times.

 

[Slyclone]

Re: rocker adjustment

Never went driving. Woke up early this morning started it up and the smoke appeared to vanish after a little bit. Don't be fooled.. It could start back up right...?? Right when you think its OK...

I still did see some residual smoke. I stabbed the gas once or twice and saw some black/blue smoke emit from tail pipe. .... Who knows..

I also pulled the oil fill cap off and see something which is strange once again. I'm not sure if its the oil with this " detergent" shit or I still have coolant infiltrating my system. I drained that oil like 9 times.

I left off leaving home knowing I need a " leak down tester". I don't want to keep playing cat and mouse with the truck. I'm pretty sure this will solve all my guessing in regards to a crack in block or heads.

Finally figured out that I could probably rent one ( for $150) and not keep wating around for some one I think is going to help.

Im still hanging in there with the truck..

 

[Couger1968]

Re: rocker adjustment

Autozone let me borrow one free. I think it will come out of it. I had a head gasket go bad in my first car and the oil kept looking crappy. I ended up draining some oil and dumping some diesel fuel, like a couple of quarts in the oil and starting it. It flushed it out pretty good. Probably wasn't the correct way, but it worked.

 

[Slyclone]

Re: rocker adjustment

I'm hoping the next step is getting this leak down tester and checking things out on that end.

 

[Couger1968]

Re: rocker adjustment

That sound like what I would do. The radiator tester is what I borrowed from autozone , so I know they have them to borrow.