View Full Version : setting solid valve lash ????
sirswapsalot
05-20-2012, 09:12 AM
i have a solid cam with 570 lift BBC, the cam card says set a 22 thousands HOT,
what would u set them at cold ???? it does not say ???
thanks for your help
markdunlap
05-20-2012, 09:19 AM
If aluminum heads, tighten .004" cold. If steel heads, loosen .004".
Then recheck after fully warmed up and adjust to spec. Whatever it is off hot from spec, adjust your cold setting next time by that much.
Yep !
I set mine @ .016 cold w/aluminum for a .020
sirswapsalot
05-20-2012, 04:54 PM
so i should set mine at 018 cold if it calls for 22 hot ??
markdunlap
05-20-2012, 06:03 PM
Yes. (If aluminum heads)
sirswapsalot
05-20-2012, 06:22 PM
they are steel, not aluminum ???
markdunlap
05-20-2012, 06:40 PM
Ok, set them at .026" then, and double check after completely warmed up to see how close they are to .022 spec.
sirswapsalot
05-25-2012, 06:32 PM
thanks for the help............. :)
coloradoracerguy
05-26-2012, 05:50 AM
Just as a reference, my cam calls for .026" hot. I adjusted them to .020" cold, fully warmed the engine and let it heat soak for a bit then adjusted them hot. Most were pretty close and the ones I adjusted only needed a bit of a tweak. I checked them cold and they were dead on at .020" again. It might be a bit of a pain to go back and forth like that, but the important thing is that you make sure your "feel" of the gauge you use is the same on all of the valves, and you check them a couple of times both cold and hot and record your findings....After that it's just a matter of the "tweaks" from time to time!
Swiley383
05-31-2012, 09:24 AM
is the same true for a small block?
coloradoracerguy
05-31-2012, 06:11 PM
The expansion rate might be a bit different, but the same holds true for any engine. Set it a bit tight cold, warm it completely up, check it hot and adjust it, making sure of the feel, then recheck when completely cold. Has worked for me for years. Just make sure you record your findings!!!
badhabit446
06-19-2012, 08:35 AM
Why not just warm the motor up to 180*. Set the valves on cyl #1 to what the cam card says. Let it cool over night and then check that cyl cold and it will tell you what it should be set at cold JMO
Good luck