i have looked at shoe box on how to adjust the valves on my car i want to set them frist with the car off just to get them in the ball park then with the car running but the alternator is in the way of the valve covers do i take the alternator off and then adjust the valves with out the alternator on or do i take it off then take the valve cover off then put the alternator back on to adjust them oh and this is a brand new build never tuned should i just fine tune them after i get the tune the tune will be a dyno tune or what i need your help

 

take alt. off
set lash w/out engine running
(I like the "#1 @ TDC/set many/turn 360* set the rest" method.)
put alt back on
start engine and readjust

 

even with it not tuned i can set them ?

 

As long as it runs/idles smoothly with the current tune. I find it difficult to do if the motor is idling rough and bucking some. Personally I just do the 3/8 of a turn preload method with the car off and be done with it. I do like to start it up with the covers off to make sure everything is like it should be though before bottoning it back up.

Really helps to take a peice of cardboard and cut it out to make an oil catch (like a cardboard valve cover with no top and is only be 3 sided) so you don't have mess on the headers when runnign the car that way.