My buddy and I are working on his 68 chevelle today and we finally got the motor all back together and all we have to do is adjust the valves and set the timing. We were able to adjust most of the valves in the proper manner (not half at a time, one at a time). We were having a problem with getting the pushrods taught on the #7/4 exhaust valves, and the #2 intake valve. We set them all to .002 lash. After we figgured out the slack in the #4 and #2 we had number 7, and then we cranked it over and then we noticed more than half had slack in them. Any ideas on taking out the slack? (poly locks were the cause of the number 4 and 2 not tightening)

 

You may need to replace the nuts, so they will stay tight. To adjust the push rods, you will to have the motor running. Back off the nuts holding the rocker arms until the rocker start to make a clicking sound and turn the nut 1 to 1 1/2 turns.

 

The nuts stay tight, they arent the problem.

 

Remove all spark plugs. I like to start on number one cylinder. When the intake just barely closes adjust the exhaust on that cyl. When the exhaust just starts to open adjust the intake on same cyl. Time consuming but it works.

 

I have always done it with the motor running. The motor will start with all rockers having slop. Continue to tighten a quarter turn at a time until they are quiet. Then one at a time back it off until you get a slight chatter then tighten till quiet plus a quarter turn. Same concept as the others just explained a little different.

 

I appriciate the help, but that wasnt my question. I know how to adjust valves, but the problem we are having is that the pushrods arent hitting the rockers almost like some are a half inch short (the motor ran before with the same pushrods so we didnt replace them with ones that are too short, though I was not thereforthe motors firstassembaly)

 

Didnt accidently pick up a few stray pushrods? Is this a new cam install? Check the lobes. Collapsed lifter maybe?

 

Sounds like some collapsed lifters to me, or, is it a small block or big block? Big blocks have different length pushrods for intake and exhaust, Trying to remember but I *think* the intake rods are longer. On a small block they are the same length.

 

I figgure its a colapsed lifter as well, but its been so bitter cold and windy here that we are waiting to pull the intake off again.

(small block, and we are just reinstalling the heads after porting)