Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

Gregs672000 wrote: Fri May 28, 2021 9:23 am Sounds like you're doing it all right. I'm guessing that what you're hearing is the few seconds before oil pressure comes up and stops the chain slop and rocker arm rattle. Run the engine for 20 seconds or so and it should quickly quiet down in the first few moments. (BTW, check into shimming the chain tensioner and inspecting the "evil L"...).

Do one set (one intake, one exhaust) at a time (they will be on different cylinders). The lobes won't be exactly straight up, but close. Your description of the "feel" was correct. Too much "lash" or having them set too loose is not as serious as going too tight... the valve must seat down or it can't transfer heat to the head and can become damaged, and no space or lash doesn't allow that. Stock settings as I recall are 8in and 12ex hot. Many of us go 6in 8ex COLD because they actually loosen with heat and will end up at 8 and 10 respectively (the 10ex being a little tighter than stock to reduce noise) once the engine warms up. Understand, so long as there's some space between the rocker and the cam you will be OK. The specification from the factory is as it is to allow for varying conditions such that the valve will ALWAYS be able to seat and transfer heat under all engine conditions, so there is no HUGE difference between 6 and 8 other than to potentially reduce valve noise by reducing "slop" if you will. If you were to go waaaay loose (like 16 and 18 hot) you might throw a lash pad at high rpm and they'll be very loud.
Hope this helps, feel free to continue to ask questions!

redroadster wrote: Fri May 28, 2021 2:09 pm You need the go - no go feeler guage maybe , I use mine all the time . Did you check after snugging the nuts ?

Gregs672000 wrote: Fri May 28, 2021 4:24 pm Valve lash and oil pressure or delivery are unrelated, so no, your adjustments make no difference there. Were they significantly different from the first time you checked prior to making your first adjustment? I would not expect a lot of change from your original settings to now. However, if I think about how the valves/seats wear, I'm imagining that they actually get tighter/less lash as the valve moves up higher into the port and against the rocker (?). I honestly don't know, but others like JT may...

Regrardless, the tighter the feel, the less lash you have, so if a 6 goes in with some wiggle work, a 5 should slip in without a lot of effort, but a 7 will not go.
You could adjust exhaust a bit tighter to the 8 cold or 10 hot if it's still making noise (they all do!). Exhaust is the more critical of the two as exhaust valves get a lot hotter than intake, so they must seat to transfer heat. Less than 8 cold or 10 hot is a risk IMHO.
No need to reef down on the locking nuts. However, the lash can change when you tighten them, so recheck the final setting... can be frustrating but you'll get it with practice.

Gregs672000 wrote: Sun May 30, 2021 11:06 am We are always happy to help... we want everyone in the family to be having fun with their cars in what ever way they desire. BTW all of us start with no knowledge or experience, just at different times in our lives! I remember being 16, having been ripped off by a non-Roadster-at-heart person with my first car/truck, and exploring my 2nd car ('73 Datsun 620 PU), where I took the valve cover off and started the engine cause I wanted to see how it worked... this led to my first purchase for this car in the form of Engine Bright degreaser as it sprayed oil EVERYWHERE. DOH! Fast forward to today and my third car (the Roadster) is modified with a crank fired ignition, fuel injection and many internal mods... all from engine degreaser...

jasmith1975 wrote: Tue Jun 01, 2021 7:06 am

Gregs672000 wrote: Sun May 30, 2021 11:06 am We are always happy to help... we want everyone in the family to be having fun with their cars in what ever way they desire. BTW all of us start with no knowledge or experience, just at different times in our lives! I remember being 16, having been ripped off by a non-Roadster-at-heart person with my first car/truck, and exploring my 2nd car ('73 Datsun 620 PU), where I took the valve cover off and started the engine cause I wanted to see how it worked... this led to my first purchase for this car in the form of Engine Bright degreaser as it sprayed oil EVERYWHERE. DOH! Fast forward to today and my third car (the Roadster) is modified with a crank fired ignition, fuel injection and many internal mods... all from engine degreaser...

Hahaha...best way to learn is trial by fire. Sometimes it's costly. Sometimes it's ugly. But most times it's worthy. Chances are you never started the car with the valve cover off again.