Inliners International Forums General Discussion Engines 261 valve clearances

'mornin'fellow inliners! I'm in the final assembly stages of my 62 261 that's going in a 36 PU w/T5 tranny. Was wondering what I should set the valve clearances at COLD. It's a solid lifter engine with new rocker assembly,pushrods, and almost everything else. I've read some of the threads on the oil filter lines also. What is the best way to go on replacements? I'll be running stock intake and exhaust, so filter will be in stock location.

plowboy2 -

All 261's have solid lifters, but the 58-62 block is drilled for hydraulic lifters. You can set them cold, but of course you will need to set them again after the engine is hot.

Cold settings = intake: .010 exhaust: .012

Hot settings = intake: .008 exhaust: .010

The 62 - 261 is a full presure engine so you will have to set up the engine with a full pressure (modern day) oil filter. It can be located anywhere, but keep in mind that most likely you will have to use a spin-on filter with a spin-on base. It may not be that attractive to mount it where it can be easily seen.

I'd like to here more about your T-5 installation and how you won the battle of the location of your shifter. It must have gotten pretty close to the seat in a 36 cab, assuming you used the S-10 T-5. With a tail shifter, it might have worked out OK.

Good luck!

Joe

Joe,
Thanks for the info on the settings.
Yes the T-5 is from an S10. The shifter comes through the floorboard with about an inch to spare. I might have to recurve the shifter to clear the seat when that time comes.

I really didn't finish my thought on the shifter. What I meant to say, to close the comments, is that if you used a tail shifter, you might have been OK if you used bucket seats because the tail shifter would have ended up between the seats. It sounds like the S-10 shifter almost ended up "between the seats"!

I have a 37 pickup and my shifter ended up about 3 inches from the seat. I reworked the shifter and got it to clear the bench seat and work very well.

Good luck!
Joe

The 261" engine valves are set at: .006 & .020 (hot) for use in comercial vehicles. Anything close to that (cold) is okay.

It's best to wait till the valves 'seat' before the final seting though.

If you have a (non stock) cam then go by what the grinder says.

The oil filter issue can be hazardous, so be carfull there.

Good luck.