santacruz50

Alright, now I have done LOTS of reading and searching through many different forums to find the answer to properly adjusting my valves.
I've been having some serious issues with my car lately: passing smog, performance etc etc.
After not passing smog 2 times in a row, and it actually getting worse the second time I went through, I am attempting to pinpoint the problem. I have never done a valve adjustment, and dont think that my Grandma had it done to the car in a long time.

THUS, I am going to try and adjust the valves to see if this fixes some of my issues.

My car is an 86 GT 5.0. It is all stock from what I know, after asking my uncles if they did any mods to it etc and they all believe that it is stock. SO, now that I am present with a stock HO engine can someone provide some information or link to proper valve adjustment to acquire zero lash?

I have read a few things but some contradict each other. I trust alot of your advice here from the many of you who seem like gurus and I am in need.

I appreciate your help. Please let me know if I must provide additional info about the car etc.

Gracias

mjr46

if it is all stock even down to the stock pedastal mount rockers, valve adjustment is NOT your problem, lash is adjusted hydraulicaly , hence hydraulic roller cam......................what is your car failing for?? H/C, NOX, CO, CO2...???? HOW MANY MILES ON THE CAR??? if you attempt to adjust a non adjustable valvetrain, you are wasting your time as well as misinformed!! and you will not fix the problem.

santacruz50

It failed HC. the first time as 500 hc, the second time after new cats installed, egr etc etc it failed with 2000 hc at idle!
The smog tech was saying that I have a dead cylinder, but they all fire. I tested this by pulling off a spark plug line and seeing how the engine replies. I did this with all cylinders and when the plug comes off at the dizzy it stumbles slightly. I've done a compression test and they were all around the same number, though I dont remember exactly what it was.

I'm wondering if perhaps the injectors are too high of a flow rate, thus causing excessive HC?

Car has 70k original miles

Now my question as I thought about it reading your post, what if some of the rockers are loose? Can no adjustment be made to my setup? I understand that there needs to be zero lash, but can I not bring the rockers into zero lash by manual adjustment?

mjr46

pedastal mount rockers just bolt down, there is no real adjustment, the 0 lash you read about is when using stud mount rockers that are adjustable/set using a poly lock , if inj's are stock, they are 19 lb and not to high flow , hc's are unburnt fuel, read this


http://www.smogtips.com/failed-high-hydrocarbons-HC.cfm

mjr46

me sure timing is set to 10 degrees btdc with spout out, make sure all tune up parts are good/new = plugs, wires, cap and rotor and that you have no vaccum leaks

santacruz50

I've read that website before. Lots of good stuff on there. Thanks for reposting it again for me.
Thats actually my next step. I've got new plugs, wires and all the ignition components that are easily damaged/worn out to install.
What is a good gap for stock copper motorcraft plugs? The motorcraft information says .050 but that seems a bit too large...Would having different sized gaps contribute to higher HC's/unburned fuel?

Muchas gracias for your help


I wish there were some local california guys around who could me out......

mjr46

.054 and autolite 25's will work fine.