Valve Adjustment ... With Engine Running or not ?

Status
Not open for further replies.

Tynan918

Royal Smart Person
Aug 2, 2021
1,136
249
63
I just did an oil change and I have adjusted the valves both with the engine running and while the engine is shut off but I still have light ticking/tapping that gets louder as I accelerate.

At first I thought maybe the engine was low on oil, or I'm not adjusting the valves correctly, but now I'm stumped and can't figure out why I can't get rid of the tapping/ticking.
 

78Delta88

Royal Smart Person
Supporting Member
May 23, 2022
1,245
1
999
113
SW Arizona
305s back in that time period would get flat lobes. The cams were soft. I worked for Pontiac dealer back then, we replaced cams under warranty on regular basis, some were less than six months old and low miles.

Your description of adjustment while running is an incorrect procedure.

With what you have right now, high idle at 1500 to 2000 for 30 to 60 seconds. Does it quiet down? Return to idle and let idle. Does it start ticking again?

If it quiets up and then starts ticking you have collapsed lifter or one that has lost its pre-load.

If the ticking gets louder then returns to its regular lighter ticking you have a loose lifter.

The higher rpm will pump up the lifter with the higher oil pressure. If it's collapsed or has embedded dirt it will start to tick the moment oil pressure reduces.

Check the belts. Put some dish soap in spray bottle And spray on belts. If tick goes away, you have a bad belt. Now just go one by one to find the bad one.

If tick is still present get a helper. Have your helper wad up a rag and put over exhaust pipe outlet. Does tick change pitch? Become dull or get louder? If so it's exhaust gasket leak or pinhole or crack in the pipe.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user

Tynan918

Royal Smart Person
Aug 2, 2021
1,136
249
63
ok, but then a few posts later you say it's been rebuilt? how extensive was this "rebuild"? or did you simply replace some parts? based on later postings in this thread I'm guessing you replaced the camshaft only? what about lifters, rocker arms, pushrods, etc?
I didn't do the rebuild.. I was just told it was rebuilt and had 46,000 miles on it..
 
  • Wow
Reactions: 1 user

Tynan918

Royal Smart Person
Aug 2, 2021
1,136
249
63
With what you have right now, high idle at 1500 to 2000 for 30 to 60 seconds. Does it quiet down? Return to idle and let idle. Does it start ticking again?
No high idle, once the engine warms up it stays at the idle that I set it to. It ticks from the time I start up to the time I shut it off. When I adjusted the lifters last time, it was quiet and I don't remember when I started ticking again, but it did and it wasn't long after I did the adjustment.
 

Tynan918

Royal Smart Person
Aug 2, 2021
1,136
249
63
Have your helper wad up a rag and put over exhaust pipe outlet. Does tick change pitch? Become dull or get louder? If so it's exhaust gasket leak or pinhole or crack in the pipe.
I took a rag and waded it up in the exhaust pipe while the engine was running and I didn't really get any difference.
 

Tynan918

Royal Smart Person
Aug 2, 2021
1,136
249
63
I took a rag and waded it up in the exhaust pipe while the engine was running and I didn't really get any difference.
Here is a video of that and inspecting my exhaust pipes..


Driver side to passenger side...

IMG_20220910_165230093.jpg
IMG_20220910_165257497.jpg
IMG_20220910_165323997.jpg
IMG_20220910_165401138.jpg


I even have this rattling from my exhaust pipes that happen when I'm accelerating and goes away as I gain speed.

 

78Delta88

Royal Smart Person
Supporting Member
May 23, 2022
1,245
1
999
113
SW Arizona
Proper procedure for engine running adjustment...

Remove valve cover bank 1-3-5-7. Turn engine over (by hand is preferred), until both Exhaust and Intake on number 1 are closed. Loosen nuts on both #1 Int and Ext rockers until both push rods are loose.

Hold #1 forward push rod between fingers and rotate and move up and down. Start tightening rocker nut until push rod will no longer move up and down. Spin push rod with fingers it should still spin. Turn nut 1/2 turn. Push rod might still spin but will have noticable resistance. Repeat for next push rod in line. Now you are done with the #1 cylinder rockers.

Notice the amount of exposed thread on the stud. From the top of the nut to the top of the stud the distance should be about 3/16 or a little more. Rake your thumbnail over the exposed stud and note 3 to 5 threads. The one next to it should look and feel the same. Now make all the rest in line to look the same.

Start the engine and start at one end and work toward the other. A piece of card stock or corrugated box is good to help control the oil that comes up. Loosen the first rocker nut until it starts to tap, then tighten to just when the tapping stops. Turn nut clockwise additional 1/2 turn and then do the next one and all the rest in sequence. Shut down the engine. Now all the lifters on the bank are pre-loaded.

Take a straight edge across the tops of all the rocker studs. Any that are sticking up higher than the others are starting to pull out of the head. Notice where the nuts ended up. All should be online and consistent. Any that are lower than the others have a; bent push rod, collapsed lifter, is a flat lobe or has other issues.

Now you can clean area, replace valve cover and do the other side.

After this is done all lifters have correct preload and there should be no ticking.

Make notes of what you find while doing this, and correct mechanical damage as necessary.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user

78Delta88

Royal Smart Person
Supporting Member
May 23, 2022
1,245
1
999
113
SW Arizona
I took a rag and waded it up in the exhaust pipe while the engine was running and I didn't really get any difference.
Ok. Next thing to try is check manifold bolts. Yours should be 14 mm. Header bolts will be what they, most are 3/8, 11 or 12 mm 12 points. Or Allen key.

Snug up any loose ones and turn 1/4 turn. No more or you risk breakage.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user

78Delta88

Royal Smart Person
Supporting Member
May 23, 2022
1,245
1
999
113
SW Arizona
Just looked at your pics, there is a lot of discoloration on the driver side gasket near the front.

Your connections at the pipes look terrible.

The bell on the one on Passenger side looks like worked over by pair of pliers.

If you get mechanic's stethescope and place probe near those areas you will hear the leak if it's there.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user

Tynan918

Royal Smart Person
Aug 2, 2021
1,136
249
63
Just looked at your pics, there is a lot of discoloration on the driver side gasket near the front.

Your connections at the pipes look terrible.

The bell on the one on Passenger side looks like worked over by pair of pliers.
Yeah I thought people would get a kick out of those photos.. those connections do look like s*** and I didn't notice the discoloration on the driver side near the front but I did notice how the gasket looks on that side, didn't seem right...

I'm going to have to drive the car like this until I can get some money to replace those manifolds with headers and probably dual pipe it out... How long do you think I can drive the car like this ?

Been driving it like this for almost a year now.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

GBodyForum is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Amazon, the Amazon logo, AmazonSupply, and the AmazonSupply logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.

Please support GBodyForum Sponsors

Classic Truck Consoles Dixie Restoration Depot UMI Performance

Contact [email protected] for info on becoming a sponsor