what do i set my valve lash at when the motor is cold?

Just the same as warm is a good starting point. Then just check it whenever possible after warmup. Theres not that much change in lash with all iron parts, some more with iron block & alum head combos.

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I can make five mistakes while you think

wrong... 010 in 020 ex hot are translated as 012 022 cold lashes and THEN adjust.

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Juan Ignacio Caino

Please use e-mail button istead of PM'ing. I do log in sometimes but I'll be answering quicker thru e-mail.

I always set mine dead cold. I just add .001 or .002 and leave them alone after that.

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

If you are going to take the rocker cover off you may as well warm up the engine and do them with it running. Idling you get almost no mess. If you are going to do a job you may as well do it right. The last two times I was teched in the guys both mentioned how quiet my lifters were, They couldn't believe they weren't hydraulic.

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As others have mentioned, the only correct way to adjust valve lash is with the engine hot (and preferably running). A cold setting slightly looser than the target hot setting will allow the engine to start and run to warm it up for the final adjustment. People have come up with various procedures for "adjusting" the valves when cold. None of them results in a proper setting when the engine's actually hot and running.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

That is an absolute wad of bullshyt. Setting valves cold will not even make any noticeable difference in the way the motor runs hot.

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

Cut out a spare valve cover to contain the oil and still allow access for valve tappet adjusting.

Sorry, Slantzilla, but you're just not correct. There's a good reason why the factory calls for them to be set hot rather than cold, and it's the same good reason everyone who really cares about doing it right sets them hot rather than cold: Hot is the right way to do it, cold is not.

Setting the valves cold is for one purpose only: To get 'em in the right neighbourhood so you can warm up the engine and do the adjustment with them hot. You can probably get your valves into the ballpark adjusting them cold, but that doesn't mean they're right.

Some folks are satisfied putting their cars in "good enough" condition and as long as they run OK, they consider that satisfactory. Maybe you're one of them. Mostly, though, people who ask how to do something are interested in how to do it right, so presenting slapdash and half-baked methods isn't a very helpful or friendly thing to do, y'know?

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

with an iron head I'd have to agree with dan, but do we really think that mother mopar let them slants warm up and put one person per engine @25 minutes to get them "perect"? I really don't think so.

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Juan Ignacio Caino

Please use e-mail button istead of PM'ing. I do log in sometimes but I'll be answering quicker thru e-mail.

Nope, not quite the way you're thinking, they didn't. At the factory they were gotten into the ballpark cold, and one of the many items the dealers did as part of new-car prep before first sale was to adjust the valve lash...hot.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

After years of religiously setting them hot and running after setting them cold......I went to Dennis' method cuz they never freekin changed more than a thou.

If you are gonna set them running at least use a vacuum gauge to optimize....

10 and 20 done "exactly" with motor running is less sensible than finding a setting that is best for your build.

That being said I never found 2 people who agreed on how to set valves....unless they were parroting Chrycos shop manual...

I wonder how many dealers pigged up brand new cars setting them hot and running?.....Im guessing lots of them were left with the factory cold setting....which is just fine.

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Yeah....Im the one who destroyed this rare, vintage automobile.....

Just remember your a yankee bagel and im a redneck possum. Just becuse we can run in the 12 second or faster on your part what the hell do we know. I would like to see some one set my vavlelash with the engine running with roller rocker arms with a lock nut. PS Bagel do you set your vavlelash like intake kickasz and exhust like take names or like me I just set both intake and exhust on kill. Thanks Possum







It Aint Over Until I Win

What lash setting to use is a separate discussion from how to set the lash.
Probably all of them at some dealerships, and none of them at others.
Suit yourself. It's so little extra effort to do it right than to do it wrong, that I don't bother doing it wrong.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

I used to set my valve lash cold because I didn't want to make a huge mess. The last time I decided to do it right and the car never idled as good as it does now, was never quieter than it is now, and I have gone a longer period of time between adjustments since the one time I have ever adjusted them hot. Why? Because it was done correctly.

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