Aschman, Fahnestock, and the K.R. Wilson valve timing tool?

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Steve Jelf
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Aschman, Fahnestock, and the K.R. Wilson valve timing tool?

Post by Steve Jelf » Thu Mar 05, 2020 2:33 pm

Ted Aschman's article on Murray Fahnestock's valve timing method describes home made tools easily made to substitute for the Wilson tool. It would be used with original pistons or their modern equivalents, and Aschman provides measurements. But how about these modern pistons?

IMG_4922 copy.JPG
I don't have any originals for comparison, but I assume these are different. I wonder if anyone can give measurements for the Wilson substitutes that will work with them.
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CudaMan
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Re: Aschman, Fahnestock, and the K.R. Wilson valve timing tool?

Post by CudaMan » Thu Mar 05, 2020 2:47 pm

Do folks still adjust their valves using the piston position method, or has that been replaced by setting a consistent lash for each intake valve and a consistent, but slightly larger lash for each exhaust valve. :)
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Scott_Conger
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Re: Aschman, Fahnestock, and the K.R. Wilson valve timing tool?

Post by Scott_Conger » Thu Mar 05, 2020 3:07 pm

It all depends on your cam and luck

You sure wouldn't want to time via piston position with a new or newer cam. I got a modest bit of improvement on an original engine using this method but ended up with a very noisy valve train for my trouble. Others state that it helped not a whit.
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Walter Higgins
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Re: Aschman, Fahnestock, and the K.R. Wilson valve timing tool?

Post by Walter Higgins » Thu Mar 05, 2020 6:49 pm

I've done it with factory grind cams. I wouldn't bother with a cam of new manufacture where the manufacture dictates it was ground to be set by lash.

As to measurements -- depth mics and indicators don't care what pistons one has.

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Walter Higgins
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Re: Aschman, Fahnestock, and the K.R. Wilson valve timing tool?

Post by Walter Higgins » Thu Mar 05, 2020 6:55 pm

Scott_Conger wrote:
Thu Mar 05, 2020 3:07 pm
I got a modest bit of improvement on an original engine using this method but ended up with a very noisy valve train for my trouble.
If the lash is a problem it only means your hearing is too good! :lol:


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Re: Aschman, Fahnestock, and the K.R. Wilson valve timing tool?

Post by Scott_Conger » Thu Mar 05, 2020 8:20 pm

well, in low, between valves, triple gear whine and rear end, it sounded like a barber-shop quartet minus the bass. Once in high, it was just a snare drum, but it DID solve the creaking wheels.

;)
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Re: Aschman, Fahnestock, and the K.R. Wilson valve timing tool?

Post by tman1913 » Sat Mar 07, 2020 8:05 am

The process was/is intended for setting valves on a worn out valve train only.

You will not get any benefit by doing so. In fact it will hurt performance in your case.

Don’t do it.

You have low use on the cam and lifters.

Set valve lash a .010” on both intake/exhaust per the cam manufactures recommendations.

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