Will play-doh hold shape enough for checking valve/piston clearance?

OR is it too flexible, bouncing back to it's original shape?

Gotta check this sometime this week, so any suggestions if play-doh won't work...

 

i used play doh on ine. make sure it isn't too dry.

 

Cool. I didn't want to have to spend any significant amount of money on some special stuff...

Should I do all cylinders or just in/ex on #1. Seems like they should all be pretty damned close to the same.

I was going to do it with pushrods on only one cylinder in case something hits...

Any other hints?

Maybe spray some wd40 on top of the playdoh so none sticks to the valves?

 

Can you tell it is my first time to do this?

 

I usually just dab a little motor oil on the top of the pistons, although WD-40 would probably do the same. Remember You must make the lifter solid and zero lash or your true lift wont be correct.

 

U Want Me To Send You A Solid Lifter

 

Just crank on the oilpump first?

Am I putting the playdoh on the piston top or the bottom of the valve? I was picturing making it stick to the piston, and have the valve press into it without sticking.

 

Yeah...Just go ahead and send me 16 of em

Just kidding. I think I can pump them up with the oil pump.

How long do they stay pumped after I pump them up?

 

Also, I have another set. I could pull the retainer out and make one solid.

 

Piston.

 

Pumping the lifter up WONT work, It will bleed down when the spring pressure hits it. You must make it solid. I made mine by going to the parts store and buying one lifter and took it apart and made it solid. Just remember to paint it a different colour so it wont be left in the engine. Put the play doh on the piston, Let the valve indent the play-doh, put a dab of oil, white lube on the valve to keep them from sticking.

 

That is what I was thinking, I have an extra set so I could make it solid.

 

I don't like the play doh method very much.

If you have a dial indicator, and a degree wheel, you can get actual numbers for your PTV clearance.

If you're actually going to bind the valve and the piston, the play doh won't help with that.

I prefer the spring method.

http://www.fordmuscle.com/fundamentals/pistontovalve/index.shtml

 

Don't have a degree wheel...

Spring method looks easier...

What is minimum safe gap?

 

scott i am sendind you my cam degree kit do it correct dont guess