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Re: [T2] Valve Adjustment question!
> Hey Will,
> There should be a mark on your distributor that is pointing back and
> slightly to the right out of the hatch of your engine compartment door
> .. at about this angle
>
> |front of car|
> | |
> | |
> | dizzy |
> | \ |
> | |
> |back of car |
>
> see that diagonal line underneath dizzy, that's about the angle that the
> little line on the rim of the distrubutor should be pointing. Spin your
> alternator bolt until the rotor lines up with it and then you have TDC.
Another way to find TDC on #1 is to rotate the crank until the TDC mark
is aligned with the case seam, then crawl under and wiggle the rockers
on #1. If both have a bit of play you are on the right TDC and you can go
ahead and adjust. If not, rotate the engine one full turn and wiggle again.
I do the wiggle test on each cylinder before I check it, just to make sure
that I haven't had a brain freeze and rotated the engine the wrong direction.
If the setting has tightened so much that all clearance is gone at TDC,
you have more serious problems than a valve adjustment will cure.
> Then go ahead and adjust cylinder one. Then spin the engine so the
> rotor turns counter-clockwise 90 degrees from that position, and you
> have cylinder two, then three, then four. Piece-o-cake :)
>
> To remove the valve covers, a drum brake tool works WONDERS!
Amen to that. I have a wide one that I use just for valve covers. Doesn't
even scratch the paint.
> remove the spark plugs and it makes it easier to spin the engine, and
> it's a good time to install new ones if you want...
I don't generally do that. A ratchet on the generator nut is generally
enough leverage to turn the engine easily, even with the spark plugs
in.
Buy a stack of valve cover gaskets (they're cheap) and replace them
every time the cover is off. I use Hylomar on the valve cover side of the
gasket and nothing on the head side. Cleans up nicely when you change
the gasket.
George Lyle