CLay Test for Valve clearance

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08-02-2011, 01:18 PM

tank86

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Join Date: Jul 2011

Location: Germany

Posts: 10

CLay Test for Valve clearance

i keep hearing about doing the clay test for valve clearance, but have "googled" it and found nothing. do u just put clay on the valve covers and see if there is an imprint?

08-02-2011, 02:07 PM

AdderMk2

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Join Date: Dec 2005

Location: Lil' Rhody

Posts: 22,376

lmao.. not even close bro.

"Claying" the valves refers to a method of checking piston to valve clearance. This involves removing the heads. If your engine is currently running, you DONT need to check your PtV

08-02-2011, 02:44 PM

tank86

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Join Date: Jul 2011

Location: Germany

Posts: 10

I was considering new heads but was told to check clearance and was curious on how to perform this clay test

08-02-2011, 02:48 PM

tank86

Thread Starter

Join Date: Jul 2011

Location: Germany

Posts: 10

Btw I apologize for the stupid question I've never torn apart an engine and I'm doing everything by reading forums books etc. Germany is a bad place to learn

08-03-2011, 08:43 AM

AdderMk2

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Join Date: Dec 2005

Location: Lil' Rhody

Posts: 22,376

you shouldnt attempt to install new heads on your 86 short block. The flat top pistons will not work well with inline valved heads. Consider a shortblock rebuild with new pistons before anything else.