Valve clearance adjustment

(Doing the tappets)

1.  First of all and most importantly, ensure the engine is dead cold.  If it's still warm, let it sit for 6+ hours before checking the valves.  The engine must be cool to the touch for accurate measurement. Leaving it overnight is the best bet.

2.  Remove the valve covers.

3.  Position the #1 cylinder into firing position.  To do this, watch the intake valve in the #1 cylinder as you turn the engine by hand.  Once this valve closes, look back at the crank pulley and see where the TDC mark is.  Continue to turn the crankshaft until the TDC mark is at the top and right on the seam in the case halves.  You can also look at your distributor rotor.  It should be pointing to the over your right shoulder when looking at it.

3.  Start with the INTAKE valve (pictured below).  Use your thumb to press on the bottom of the rocker arm while you  insert your .006" feeler gauge between the tappet and the valve stem.  If it won't go in, the valve it tight.  If it goes in loosely, the valve is loose.  If it goes in and you can feel slight resistance as it's drawn through, no adjustment is required.

4.  To adjust the valve, loosen the 13mm jam nut with your spanner.

   4a.  While holding the jam nut with the spanner, turn the adjustment screw with the screwdriver either tighter or looser, to achieve .006" 

    4b.  While holding the adjustment screw steady, tighten jam nut.

5.  Re-check with the feeler gauge.  If it's still not right repeat step 4 until it is.

6.  Repeat steps 3 - 5 for the #1 EXHAUST valve.

7.  Turn the crankshaft 180 degrees ANTI-CLOCKWISE and repeat steps 3 - 7 on cylinder #2, then #3 and finally #4.  You MUST always remember to turn the crankshaft 180 degrees counter-clockwise whenever moving to the next cylinder.

There you go, that's all there is to it!