[mkebaird]

I've got a 350 chevy with mechanical lifters -trouble is I didn't ask 'what cam is in it' when I bought it. Any ideas on how to find out what the proper valve lash should be? The motor and heads are cast iron and it has stamped roller rockers - it dyno'd at 430hp. Thanks for any suggestions.

[xntrik]

Obviously you have exhausted all routes to determine what you have.

Is it running well now? Does it sound OK now? I would measure the clearances cold and note those figures and make adjustments based on that.

Monitor a vacuum gauge closely to determine if the valves are closing when it gets hot.

If the engine is not runable now, I would pull the valve covers and measure what the clearances are now, right off the dyno. Surely the engine assembler got the clearances close.

Most everything will be in the 20/20 range, give or take a couple.
Note= it takes a very good human to get the valves within .002 with a hand feeler gauge.

[k-star]

It all depends on how good you are with a indicator...

Solid cams have what is called a lash ramp ground into them. The lash ramp is usually close to what the valve lash is...


You are going to have to check it down on the lifter. If you rotate the engine until the lifter is on the base circle of the cam and then set the indicator to zero...rotate the engine in the normal direction and watch the indicator real close, as the needle starts to move you will see it move slow at first and then faster when it starts on the opening ramp... do it a few times and you will catch on to it... If the lash ramp is say .020" i would start with a lash of about .022" or so... don't lash it less then the ramp....


Keith

[mkebaird]

Thanks for the replies - I'll check the lash as it is now - it's running good but I'm starting to hear a little valve train clatter. I'll try the indicator method next time I have the intake off.

Hope you all had a good 4th...

Mike