head gasket

[mallard]

Thanks agian for the help and not getting frustrated with me on this. I'm still fairly young (27) and still learning alot and figuring this out. is this the correct position #1 compression stroke or just a chunk out of the sheave? I looked in the -20 and -34 but all i could find was adjusting the valves with the motor running but i assume i have to get close before this. if not what is the correct position. sorry for all of the questions and have a good week.

[Horst]

That is the timing mark for setting the ignition timing.

Concerning the valves and doing the intial setting. Don't worry about the mark, just turn the crank so that you can positively see that the valve you want to adjust is fully closed and the rocker moves freely. Then set the clearance and move on the the next valve. As easy as that.

When it comes to adjusting the valves with the engine running, I would recommend the folllowing. I know that the book says adjusting the rocker while the engine is running. I would not do it. Check the adjustment with the engine running, you will immediately get a feeling when inserting the feeler gauge if the valve is too tight or too lose. But then turn off the engine, turn the adjuster in the correct direction, start engine and check with feeler again. In my opinion much easier to do than trying to adjust when the engine runs, yes possible but why?
After you have adjusted everything, have the engine running and just listen to the valve train. You want some ticking, but no loud valve noise. If there is still some, insert the feeler and see if it disappears. If yes, that specific valve probably needs just a little more tightening.

Put some towels around the engine, there will be not a lot of oil coming out, but some fine spray from the moving rockers and valves.

[rickf]

Yes that is the timing mark and yes you can use it to set the valves. To make it easy take a strait edge and go across the front of the pulley and make a mark on the opposite side from that one. Then when you start at number one you can just turn the engine by hand (plugs out makes this easy) until you hit the mark on the other side, one half turn. Just make sure that number one is on the compression stroke when you start, both valves/lifters will be down, not rocking with one on the way up and one on the way down. As you turn the motor over you will see what I am talking about. Like Horst said, the valves can be set without running the motor. I have arthritis in my hands and it is just to painful to do it that way anymore and I have no problems doing it not running. What you will want to do though is get them set so it will run and then let it warm up and then reset them since they are supposed to be set warm.

[mallard]

Thank you both for the help and it makes sense now what you are saying, I will try and get this set tonight and then finally be done with the engine side!!!

[whiterabbit]

Don't forget to put a dab of white paint on the pulley mark. That mark is a pain to see with the timing light without it!

[mallard]

thanks for all of the help, I got home tonight and in 10 min had the valves set. it all made sense after looking at it and thinking about everything you said. so now I'll put in a new set of plugs and put put everything back on. I'm going to go ahead and put on a new set of belts, the old ones were getting chewed up pretty good so its time. my old belts were cherping before i took everything apart, is there a better way to clean the sheaves than just spinning them and using a wire brush to get the old belt dressing off? Thanks again for all of the help, now i'm moving on to step 2!!! have a good evening.