Valve Adjustment 251/265 Flat Head 6 Cyl

What is the real way to adjust the valves on a flat head 6 cylinder motor? The Chilton's manual says to do it with the motor warm and running. How about cold and a sequence? Anyone? Thanks. Jay

After doing the valves on my 230 Flathead I adjusted them cold in order to get it started, this may not be the recommended way but it worked....

1. Take a tape measure and starting at the mark on the front pulley measure the circumference of the pulley and divide the pulley in 3rds making a mark with white chalk at each third.

2. Bring the engine up on NR1 TDC which will have the valves on NR1 cylinder closed, set the clearance to specs on both valves, I added a little extra space to make up for it being cold

3. Now knowing the firing order is 1-5-3-6-2-4 turn the engine to the next mark you made on the pulley, this should bring up NR5, set the valves, rotate the next mark to TDC and adjust NR3, rotate to next mark and adjust NR6, Next mark NR2, Next mark NR4. It would probably be a good idea to readjust them after the engine was warmed up but mine was running so good and I could hear the valves ticking a little, and the thought of messing around under the exhaust manifold wasn't too appealing that I just put the covers back on and I"ve not touched it since.....

Good Luck.....RB

After doing the valves on my 230 Flathead I adjusted them cold in order to get it started, this may not be the recommended way but it worked....

1.  Take a tape measure and starting at the mark on the front pulley measure the circumference of the pulley and divide the pulley in 3rds making a mark with white chalk at each third.

2.  Bring the engine up on NR1 TDC which will have the valves on NR1 cylinder closed,  set the clearance to specs on both valves,  I added a little extra space to make up for it being cold

3.  Now knowing the firing order is 1-5-3-6-2-4 turn the engine to the next mark you made on the pulley,  this should bring up NR5,  set the valves,  rotate the next mark to TDC and adjust NR3,  rotate to next mark and adjust NR6,  Next mark NR2,  Next mark NR4.  It would probably be a good idea to readjust them after the engine was warmed up but mine was running so good and I could hear the valves ticking a little,  and the thought of messing around under the exhaust manifold wasn't too appealing that I just put  the covers back on and I"ve not touched it since.....

Good Luck.....RB

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

After doing the valves on my 230 Flathead I adjusted them cold in order to get it started, this may not be the recommended way but it worked....

1.  Take a tape measure and starting at the mark on the front pulley measure the circumference of the pulley and divide the pulley in 3rds making a mark with white chalk at each third.

2.  Bring the engine up on NR1 TDC which will have the valves on NR1 cylinder closed,  set the clearance to specs on both valves,  I added a little extra space to make up for it being cold

3.  Now knowing the firing order is 1-5-3-6-2-4 turn the engine to the next mark you made on the pulley,  this should bring up NR5,  set the valves,  rotate the next mark to TDC and adjust NR3,  rotate to next mark and adjust NR6,  Next mark NR2,  Next mark NR4.  It would probably be a good idea to readjust them after the engine was warmed up but mine was running so good and I could hear the valves ticking a little,  and the thought of messing around under the exhaust manifold wasn't too appealing that I just put  the covers back on and I"ve not touched it since.....

Good Luck.....RB

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for the information and help. I will try this method out tomarrow. Jay