MTFCA Forum

My Stipe camshaft, standard 0.0250" lift, is about 2 year old. I have to rotate the engine to open each valve to be able to get to the lower adjustment flat on the tappets to be able to adjust them. I put a dial indicator on the top of the valve, rotate the engine to the valve is full open and then adjust the tappet to set the opening to 0.240" then rotate the engine until the valve is fully closed and check the clearance. Back to full open and make the final adjustment on the tappet to get 0.010" clearance and then I'm done, or so I thought. #2 valve bumps open about 0.005" when it should be closed as I rotate the engine. Is this a problem, definitely not now that I know about it as I'll just increase the tappet clearance until it doesn't bump open. This simply implies that one should check the valves by rotating the engine to verify this isn't happening.

Victor I installed the 280 in my 26 and cold lash for intake/exhaust were recommended .010, some folks like .012 on exhaust with using the new style valves versus the old two piece that expand more. If you are using the adjustable lifters or "push rods" it's pretty slick, my original lifters were dished and well beyond their prime and out of spec.

I set my valves using a great segment from Mtf forum from sept 2007 answered by The Glen Chaffin who answered a valve adjustment question from the forum. It is valve adjustment Gospel 101. Good luck and let us know how you make out.

Victor,

Yes, that could be a problem. Depends when it is in the cycle that the valve bumps open. But really, I would want to know why it's happening at all. If I understand correctly what's going on, it makes me think there's a small bump in the heel of the cam form that shouldn't be there. I would "ink-up" the cam lobe all the way around, then rotate the engine through one turn of the cam. Look for evidence of the ink being rubbed off in an odd spot to determine where and why this is happening. Yes, you could just adjust it away, but that's not getting to why it's happening.