Adjusted valves for the first time, big noise reduction

[Turbo_Bob]

I adjusted my valves for the first time, 120,000 miles on engine. I used the shop manual and TDR magazine artical in #54 issue. I bought a barring tool to turn the flywheel, worked real good. I had no tight valves, most of them were on the loose side. Only two rockers were on the perfict limit, the rest I adjusted, . 010 for intake, . 020 for exhaust, cold.



What a difference with the noise, the engine allways had tappit noise during idle, especially when cold. Now there is absolutly ZERO tappit noise.



This was not an easy job for the first timer, but with the tools and articals I was able to get r done. Took me around three hours start to finish for the job. It was a b itch to get to the #5 & #6 rockers, was on my hands and knees on top of the engine to get back there.



This week was a high maintenance for the truck, I:

1. adjusted the valves

2. changed the radiator fluid

3. change the oil & filter

4. changed the fuel filter

5. cleaned the air filter

6. changed the trans gear oil

7. rotated the tires, yes the tires have 120K on them

 

[InfernoB]

By the looks of the weather for the next few days, not a moment to soon.....

How was it getting the valve cover off and on?

Keep us posted on whether your mpg's went up with the valve adj.

Thanks.

 

[Turbo_Bob]

By the looks of the weather for the next few days, not a moment to soon.....

How was it getting the valve cover off and on?

Keep us posted on whether your mpg's went up with the valve adj.

Thanks.

Yes, it was snowing this morning, got to a high of 40F in the noon.



Valve cover was easy, just a flat blade screw driver between the rocker box and the valve cover and a slight twist and pop, it came up with very little effort.



The hard thing was pulling off the breather hoses from the black box on the cover.



The manual says there should be no improvment in performance if the valves were in the zone, but I think it might make a very small difference, we will see and I will report back. This will take awhile because I have to burn off over 800+ miles on each fill-up, need to run two to three tanks full to see it it does make a difference.