Thread: Normal Valve Noise

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Whats going on guys/gals?

I recently readjusted the valves on my dad's '64 Porsche 356 SC. What is the normal sound for their opperation? They do not sound tight and they are not banging around at least ( ) if i had to describe it its like... what a 100hp sewing machine would sound like. woom, woom, woom, woom.

It was the first time I have adjusted valve lash, hopefully nothin broke

Thanks,
-CJP

P.S. its a mechanical flat-tappet valve train

When my Son was playing around with VW's we adjusted the valves a few times, and they always had a tick to them. Even finned aluminum valve covers didn't muffle them completely. Just a trait of mechanical lifters.

Don

what method did you use to adjust them? by ear or by book standards?

mechanical cams can be loud every vw do sound like my moms old sewing machine X2 .i have 4 inch ex on a car never seen it go do the road. i let a good friend drive it. i wanted to hear what it sounded like going down the road the 4 inch was loud but not as loud as the soild roller cam in the 14.8 cr 548cid bbc sounded like a thrashing machine i would not of guess that

I know when we adjusted the valves on my old Porsche (some 20 years ago) and my brothers TR4... when it was set... it sounded like a well oiled sewing machine... all stock running gear...

Originally Posted by mooneye777

what method did you use to adjust them? by ear or by book standards?

By the book. 0.005" on the intake & 0.006"-0.007" on the exhaust

Well, I didn't have a 0.005" feeler, so I adjusted all of them to 0.006"

I guess it sounding like a sewing machine is normal

thanks!

-CJP

The sewing machine sound is not uncommon but not normal. Most common cause for the noise you can't get rid of is worn rocker arm tips. The VW engines rarely get regular valve adjustments and it puts a wear pattern on the the tips and the feeler gauge can't compensate. Did you use the 180 degree rotation when you ran the valves or at least have both valve covers off to double check the back side of the cam for exact placement of the cam lobes?

yes to all of your above questions nitrowarrior. I started at #1 cylinder at TDC, the distributor was firing that cylinder, adjusted the valves, then rotated the engine 180 degrees COUNTERclockwise to get #3 cylinder at TDC, adjsted them, then another 180 counterclockwise, etc.

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-CJP