Inliners International Forums General Discussion Engines Adjusting valves for the first time...

I'm working on a 1958 Chevy 235. I had the engine rebuilt. I'm trying to start it for the first time. How do I adjust the valves before starting it. It has hadraulic lifters.

Check the adjustment screws on every rocker arm to (be sure) see if there all in the same position. Rotate the engine & see that none 'bottom out' etc.

If this is the same assembly that this engine ran with before; the adjustment will be about right for "start up".

After It's running you can 'dial in' the correct adjustment which is zero + what ever the manual says with the engine hot, running.

This is one of those few times where "about right" is okay.

Good luck.

It helps alot if you manually pump up all the lifters before start up. Just stand them all up in the bottom of a coffee can and submerge them in motor oil, then push down on each plunger (with a push rod) a few times till they pump up solid.

Dan

It won't hurt anything to have them slightly loose when you start it, its much better to have them too loose than too tight.

I'm getting ready to do the same thing as was a little nervious. Take a look at this, hope it helps.

http://www.cranecams.com/?show=techarticle&id=2