Help with Valve Job

[asifallasleep]

Decided to adjust my valves for the first time and need help. Took cover off, put car in fourth gear and pushed it forward. Having trouble figuring out which rocker arm is on the backside of the cam lobe. It appears that 3 are equally back with a fourth (all the way to the right) slightly forward. See pic.

Can all three be back at once? if so, can i adjust all 3 without moving the car again?

[asifallasleep]

Or is this one back? with the cam lobe part jetting out forming an upside down triangle. see pic. Thanks

[Preyupy]

Look on the front pulley or through the timing hole in the bell housing (just above the starter in the bell housing) and find TDC The flywheel will be marked "OT" it does not matter if you are on cyl #1 or #4. Look at the camshaft and you will see the two lobes of either cyl #1 or #4 pointed up and both valves of that cyl with be part open, the intake valve will be opening and the exhaust valve will be closing. THIS IS OVERLAP and you should adjust the valves of the opposing cyl. If the lobes are showing for cyl #4 then adjust the valves for cyl #1, and if the lobes are showning for cyl #1 adjust #4. turn the engine 180 deg until the lobes look just like that on either cyl #2 or #3 and adjust the valves on the one that is closed of that pair. Turn it another 180 deg and do the next set then again for the last cyl.

[asifallasleep]

Look on the front pulley or through the timing hole in the bell housing (just above the starter in the bell housing) and find TDC The flywheel will be marked "OT" it does not matter if you are on cyl #1 or #4. Look at the camshaft and you will see the two lobes of either cyl #1 or #4 pointed up and both valves of that cyl with be part open, the intake valve will be opening and the exhaust valve will be closing. THIS IS OVERLAP and you should adjust the valves of the opposing cyl. If the lobes are showing for cyl #4 then adjust the valves for cyl #1, and if the lobes are showning for cyl #1 adjust #4. turn the engine 180 deg until the lobes look just like that on either cyl #2 or #3 and adjust the valves on the one that is closed of that pair. Turn it another 180 deg and do the next set then again for the last cyl.

misread what you said. got it now.

[Napes]

Though Preyupy's method works fine, it's a little more convoluted than need be. I just look and see which cams lobes are close to being opposite the point on the lobe where the rocker rides. There may be two that can be adjusted from the same cam position, i.e., #2 exhaust and #4 intake, though I don't remember which actual ones can be adjusted at the same time - I just look at the cam lobes. If the high point on the lobe is opposite where the rocker is riding, then adjust that one. And I use a remote starter 'cause my cars are both automatics. I just touch the remote starter very quickly and see what rockers I can adjust next. On a piece of paper, laying on top of the air cleaner, I have two rows of four circles and cross-off each as it gets adjusted.

Bob Napier

[02for2]

Well, you should check the existing clearances first before adjusting. Using a feeler gauge, first insert an 0.007" gauge - it should feel loose. Then insert an 0.009", and it should not go in at all, or at least be very tight. This would mean that a 0.008" gauge will fit with a slight drag, and is the correct setting.

You will always be closing this gap, because the valves drive deeper and deeper into the valve seats (closing the gap) with time. The correct range is 0.006"-0.008", but go with 0.008" because it will extend the time the valve lash stays in spec.

Valves which are already to spec should be left alone.

You can pretty well sight which cam lobes are 180° from the rocker arm pad.

Loosen the plugs to make turning the engine easier.

Cheers!

[asifallasleep]

Though Preyupy's method works fine, it's a little more convoluted than need be. I just look and see which cams lobes are close to being opposite the point on the lobe where the rocker rides. There may be two that can be adjusted from the same cam position, i.e., #2 exhaust and #4 intake, though I don't remember which actual ones can be adjusted at the same time - I just look at the cam lobes. If the high point on the lobe is opposite where the rocker is riding, then adjust that one. And I use a remote starter 'cause my cars are both automatics. I just touch the remote starter very quickly and see what rockers I can adjust next. On a piece of paper, laying on top of the air cleaner, I have two rows of four circles and cross-off each as it gets adjusted.

Bob Napier

on the E46 you adjust the valve which has the cam lobe at the high point. so it's the opposite on the 2002? Just want to make sure. For example, When valve #2's cam lobe is at the high point, the rocker arm is firmly pressed into the pin, #3 is on the back end. I would be checking the distance of #3 and if need be making adjustments to #3. Is this correct? Thanks.

[02for2]

You want the rocker arm pad at the low point on the cam. The rocker arm lash pad will not be touching the valve stem, in fact, it should be withdrawn the furthest from the valve stem.

You're not measuring rocker arm-to-camshaft, you're measuring the rocker arm to valve stem gap.

Cheers!

[asifallasleep]

You want the rocker arm pad at the low point on the cam. The rocker arm lash pad will not be touching the valve stem, in fact, it should be withdrawn the furthest from the valve stem.

You're not measuring rocker arm-to-camshaft, you're measuring the rocker arm to valve stem gap.

Cheers!

we're on the same page. i've just never see the rocker arm to valve stem gap so great where it's really really obvious. i'm going by the cam lode position to determine which rocker arm to valve stem gap to measure distance with the feeler.

[asifallasleep]

Well, you should check the existing clearances first before adjusting. Using a feeler gauge, first insert an 0.007" gauge - it should feel loose. Then insert an 0.009", and it should not go in at all, or at least be very tight. This would mean that a 0.008" gauge will fit with a slight drag, and is the correct setting.

You will always be closing this gap, because the valves drive deeper and deeper into the valve seats (closing the gap) with time. The correct range is 0.006"-0.008", but go with 0.008" because it will extend the time the valve lash stays in spec.

Valves which are already to spec should be left alone.

You can pretty well sight which cam lobes are 180° from the rocker arm pad.

Loosen the plugs to make turning the engine easier.

Cheers!

"You can pretty well sight which cam lobes are 180° from the rocker arm pad." So the 180° position is when the pointed end of the cam lobe is pointed directly down?

[Napes]

Not "when the cam lobe in pointed directly down" but when the high spot on the cam lobe is pointed 180º away from where the rocker arm is touching the lobe. And, if you're a teensie bit off, you'll still be fine. "This ain't rocket science".

Bob Napier

[asifallasleep]

Not "when the cam lobe in pointed directly down" but when the high spot on the cam lobe is pointed 180º away from where the rocker arm is touching the lobe. And, if you're a teensie bit off, you'll still be fine. "This ain't rocket science".

Bob Napier

Why is it suggested that the car be off 24 hours before working on the valves? I drove the car for 5 minutes. Can i not go back in after an hour?

[steve k.]

Bob Napier

Why is it suggested that the car be off 24 hours before working on the valves? I drove the car for 5 minutes. Can i not go back in after an hour?

everything has to be dead cold. The tolerances are very small to the point that any expansion due to heat will not let you adjust the gap accurately.

steve k.

[Benz02]

2 cents worth:

Here's my method. Remove the spark plugs and distributor cap. Put the car in 4th and roll til the distributor rotor is pointed at the notch, which is at about 2 o'clock looking down on it. Now you will see on the number one cylinder that the rockers are equal and th cam lobes are equal on each side, so to speak. Check the clearences and adjust if needed. Roll the car forward to the next cylinder in the firing order, about a quarter rotation of the distributor rotor, and repeat.

HTH

-Ben