Noob Question: Valve clearance and lash caps

[heinrich]

I adjusted my valves today, and all of them went fine except for the #2 exhaust. Even with the eccentric turned so far around that I couldn't see the adjustment hole in the top anymore, the clearance wasn't even close on that one--which explains the clicking I've been hearing.

Can I use a lash cap on that valve stem to get some clearance back? If so, what is the procedure for installing it?

Secondly, the clicking sounds godawful. I know that the performance suffers a lot from valve clearances out of spec, but how damaging to the valve train is it (if it is damaging at all)?

Thanks,

[Guest Anonymous]

You need some oversized adjusters. As 02 valve trains age, the rocker shafts wear to the point where you can't adjust your valves properly any more. You can buy oversized adjusters from Ireland Engineering (I think--someone has 'em)--buy several, as you're gonna have more valves do what this one did.

Or, if you have some good machine shops in your area, buy a stock new adjuster, take it to a machine shop and have 'em make you some that are .040 thou oversized in diameter. Make sure they case harden 'em or they'll wear out quickly.

The same thing happened to my '69 at about 35k (early cars had unbushed rocker arms and they wore the shafts out pretty quickly). I used oversized adjusters for 120k until I rebuilt the head at 158k...

cheers

mike

[heinrich]

Cool. So by "adjuster" do you mean the eccentric? The round thing you rotate to adjust the clearance?

[Guest Anonymous]

in diameter, not wider (thicker). They work like a charm and should do you for another 100k miles.

mike

[ingraham]

(nt)