Editing Adjusting hydraulic lifters

The following is based on instructions originally by Crane Cams:

*You will want to know the firing order of the engine you are working on. The Chevrolet small block V8 (aka"SBC") is: '''1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2'''

*You will want to know what direction the distributor rotates. For the SBC, it is '''CW'''. 

*And you will want to know the order of the valves as they are located in the cylinder head. The small block Chevy V8 is: '''E I I E E I I E'''

==='''Adjusting Hydraulic Lifters for Proper Preload'''=== 

'''EO/IC Method''' ('''E'''xhaust '''O'''pening/'''I'''ntake '''C'''losing)

In order to adjust the preload, the lifter must be properly located on the base circle or "Heel" of the lobe. 

At this position the valve is closed and there is no lift taking place. You will need to watch the movement of the valves to determine which lifter is properly positioned for adjusting. 

'''1.''' Remove the valve covers, and pick a cylinder that you are going to set the preload on. 

'''2.''' Hand rotate the engine in its normal direction of rotation and watch the exhaust valve on that particular cylinder. When the exhaust valve begins to open, stop and adjust that cylinder's intake rocker arm. (Why? Because when the exhaust valve is just beginning to open, the intake lifter will be on the base circle of the lobe- the correct position for adjusting the intake.) 

'''3.''' Back off the intake rocker arm adjuster and remove any tension from the pushrod. Wait a minute or two for that hydraulic lifter to return to a neutral position. The spring inside the lifter will move the pushrod seat up against the retaining lock if you give it time to do so. (If you are installing brand new lifters they will be in the neutral position when they come in the box.) 

'''4.''' Now spin the intake pushrod with your fingers while tightening down the rocker arm. (If you are uncertain that you are feeling the "Zero" setting, jiggling the push rod up and down will sometimes give a better sense of when all the clearance has been removed.) When you feel a slight resistance to the turning of the pushrod, you are at "Zero Lash". Turn the adjusting nut down one half to one full turn from that point. Lock the adjuster into position. The intake is now adjusted properly. 

'''5.''' Continue to hand turn the engine, watching that same intake. It will go to full open and then begin to close.When it is almost closed, stop and adjust the exhaust rocker arm on that particular cylinder. (Again, when we see the intake almost closed, we are sure that exhaust lifter is on the base circle of the lobe.) Loosen the exhaust rocker arm and follow the same procedure described before in steps 3 and 4 to adjust this rocker arm. 

'''6.''' Both valves on this cylinder are now adjusted, and you can move on to your next cylinder and follow the same procedure again.

Something that you also might find useful, is go to '''[[How To Make A Timing Tape]]'''. This temporary timing tape will allow you to check and set the total timing even if you don't have a timing light that reads advance or a degreed damper. You can also use it to permanently mark the damper for full advance, etc. as you see fit.

If there's any doubt as to whether or not the timing mark on the damper and the timing tab is accurate, at the article above on making a timing tape, there is a link to '''"Determining Top Dead Center"''' you can use, to be sure of your timing marks.


== Adjusting Lifters Using a Video Presentation ==

Sometimes a video presentation helps to fill in the voids in describing a written direction of a project, this is one of those times. Check it out here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89o5rLpbCgI&NR=1&feature=fvwp



[[Category:Good articles]] 
[[Category:Engine]]