Valve Lash Adjustment

[dorkweed]

Finally got around to getting it done today.  What an effing PITA!!!!  Valve bank 4 is sort of under the cowl and ,5 and 6 are totally under the cowl and you need to be part monkey to get at them with wrenches and feeler gauges!!!  

 

Only have 215,486 miles on MightyWhitey and it's the first time done on her.  None were crazy out of whack, but some were tight and some were loose.  I turned the engine over using a socket on the alternator bolt.  Only drew blood on one finger during the whole ordeal.

[mopartechnician]

Ya rears suck. I always work back to front that way i have the energy and patience to do those first. I dont like using the alternator because i do believe it turns the motor backwards. I just find the tdc mark on the dampner and turn the dampner

[dorkweed]

Should my truck sound/feel different after doing this????

 

I think I'm noticing smoother/more even acceleration....................and a bit less noise at idle.

 

Or is it from working the snot/blowing the carbon out of her on my NoDak trip???

 

 

Did this after NoDak trip also.

[Wild and Free]

Depending on how far off they were it can definitely quiet it down and smooth it out at idle.

[CumminStrong]

Is there a video with the correct way to attempt the adjustment? 

[Mopar1973Man]

Here is my 24V write up.

http://articles.mopar1973man.com/2nd-generation-24v-dodge-cummins/26-engine-systems/121-valve-lash-adjustment-cummins

 

Here is the common rail write up.

http://articles.mopar1973man.com/3rd-generation-dodge-cummins/53-engine-system/120-valve-adjustment-and-verification

 

Basically both the same.

[AH64ID]

It shouldnt' feel different, but you are twice the reccommended adjustment interval. Even thou Cummins says 100K miles I do mine more often and even then it made small feel differences.

What did you set the to? Many people set the exhaust to 0.018" to get a little more exhaust out on HPCRs due to the short duration on the OEM cam. It can increase drive pressure a little, but from how I gather you use your truck it wouldnit be an issue on DP but maybe a little more spool/performance for free.

Did you adjust them all or just if they where out of spec?

How close are you to an oil change? My silicone always goes up after a valve lash since it is very hard to keep the dust off the valve train.

[Mopar1973Man]

My silicone always goes up after a valve lash since it is very hard to keep the dust off the valve train.

 

I yanked out all that nasty matting on the cowl.

 

Just for fun. I just got done doing valve adjustment on a old 70's Datsun engine tonight.

[AH64ID]

I left mine as it helps protect the wiring from too much heat, but it's probably not needed with the manifold blankets.

[dorkweed]

It shouldnt' feel different, but you are twice the reccommended adjustment interval. Even thou Cummins says 100K miles I do mine more often and even then it made small feel differences.

What did you set the to? Many people set the exhaust to 0.018" to get a little more exhaust out on HPCRs due to the short duration on the OEM cam. It can increase drive pressure a little, but from how I gather you use your truck it wouldnit be an issue on DP but maybe a little more spool/performance for free.

Did you adjust them all or just if they where out of spec?

How close are you to an oil change? My silicone always goes up after a valve lash since it is very hard to keep the dust off the valve train.

 

 

I did adjust them all.  As I said, some were "loose" and some were "tight".  I did the .020 and .010 exhaust and intake for my '04.5.

 

None were crazy loose or crazy tight.  Maybe just the fact that I did something to my Cummins made my "rear-end" hyper-sensitive!!!  The SOP-meter was pegged!!!  

[AH64ID]

Having some loose and some tight means each cylinder was breathing different, now they should all be the same so I am sure you can feel it.

[Ilikeoldfords]

I just did the adjustments on my 01 a few weeks ago. It had about 60k on it since the last time it was done and the difference was very noticible. Most of the valves were about 4-6 thousanths loose!! Maybe it is just because its a noisy 24 valve, but just the sound difference was huge for me.

 

On this note, does anyone have the valve specs for a 1992 era chevy 305CID motor? I am getting ready to change the valve cover gaskets and with over 260k on it, it is probably time!!