Thread: Adjusting valves on the ZZ430

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I've had this car about 3 months now. Motor is #416. Prev owner said he had just changed the oil a month before I bought it.
When I dumped the oil- it seemed pretty thick to me. I swapped it for 5w30 Mobil1, motor has about 15,000 miles on it.
While I know these motors are notoriously noisy in the valve train, it seems so much louder now. Loud at idle, Seems to get real loud above 2500 rpm.
So- I think I need to pull the cast valve covers & take a look see.

What is recommended pre-load & procedure? My other car has a solid roller & it's lots quieter than this.

I also have cases of 10w50 Red Line I run in the 55. I wonder if that oil would be quieter?

My oil pressure is great BTW

I have two of the ZZ430 engines ( #216 and #430 ) and both were noisy. One is in my 32 Roadster and the other is in my 32 Ford 3W project.

I just installed the 3W body yesterday ... for the last time ...



I just adjusted my engines with the engine running ... like you would any hydraulic lifter engine. Back the rocker adjustment off until it clicks and then tighten. When the clicking STOPS ... I went another 3/4 turn. I have a valve cover with the top cut

50 weight oil is heavier and thicker ... so it would quieten things a little ... but I prefer to use the original factory recomended Mobile One ...

Did you get the matching number Hat, jacket and paperwork with your ZZ430 ?

I guess I'll keep the Red Line for the 600 hp motor & keep using the Mobil1.
I don't like adjust valves w/ motor running- too messy. I prefer to do one cyl at a time- with motor off, turn motor over clockwise until exhaust just starts to open & adjust the intake. Then turn motor over until intake starts to close & set exhaust.
It's quick & no mess. That's how I do the 55.

Yes- I have all the paperwork on the motor- including the original sales receipt from Joe MacPherson Chevrolet in Irvine Ca for a total of $8005.83 7/14/99 Car wasn't complete until 2002.
I have the hat & jacket also as well as every receipt on build. Carb was changed to a Holley Street Avenger but I did get the original Holley in the Avenger box.

I've found the lash quotes all over the map.
One site gives this:
LT4 Hot Cam
1.6 rockers
I- 218
E- 228
I- 525
E- 525

Valve lash 0/0

These are numbers PO wrote on the paperwork also. I'd bet that's where these are set. That would be noisy!

I'm trying to confirm 0 or is it a 1/4 turn, 1/2 turn, 3/4 turn.

So far- everything I found, points to 1/2-3/4 preload. Big difference between that & 0.

no more then 1/2 turn. and get rid of the mobil1 inless you put a can of stp red in it. the zddp pack is junk and if you add stp red not blue or gm eos it's better but there still alot of oils better. the e.o.s has been rebottled and comes in a ac/delco part number.