Quote Originally Posted by chevy 37
Mt friends and I were adjusting my rockers and I thought I would ask all you engine builders(I'm on my 4th) a question regarding adjustments. Back in the late 50's and 60's I always adjusted the rockers by taking off the valve cover and tightning them down until the racket went away. If I tightned them to much you'd know right away and back adjustments off a quarter turn. I still do this and was wondering if any one else still practices this. Beside being messy with the oil spraying the engine, I never had any problems doing it this way, but again I'm talking about older engines with hydraulic cams.
To set hyd. lifter pre-load make sure the lifter is on the base circle of the lobe.
Tighten the rocker arm until you get the push rod to just turn a little between your fingers.
This should be the close enough to the .020 to .060 pre-load required.
Rotate engine until the next lifter is on the base circle of the lobe.
Then move on to the next lifter and do the same thing.