The opti is on correct for sure. I took time to make sure that the dowel was correct length and that the dowel went into the keyed hole on the opti. It's not an opti problem, it has to be the rockers. I mean **** I bent a freaking pushrod!!!

 

Well stop posting and go out and readjust the rockers.

It isnt that hard and should only take you about an hour max.

 

I've always turned my crank with a 5/8 spark plug socket and a breaker bar. If your hub is misaligned you can always pull the number 1 valve spring off and turn it until your valve stem comes all the way up. I would say becarefull doing it this way and hold onto the top of your valve just incase the seal is old and weak. The only thing your going to have to look for while adjusting them in sequence is, there not adjusting right. If there not adjusting right your going to have to turn the crank 360 degrees to get on the compression stroke. If your on the exhaust stroke you'll notice your rockers are tightning in all different postions (very noticable). I've used this method with my comp pro mag 1.6 and it's a real pain in the azz. It seems like you can never get it right and for some reason they were always to tight when I finished. If I were you I would just take each rocker bolt off and put it back on with about 2-3 turns and then try to start the car ( they won't be to tight and not to loose to run the car) I would really say do it while running if you don't have someone there thats done the top dead center method before.

almost forgot is the car still stopping dead in it's tracks while trying to crank?

 

If your hub is misaligned you can always pull the number 1 valve spring off and turn it until your valve stem comes all the way up.




That is a no go, lol. Valve can drop into the cylinder and you'll most likely have to pull the head to get it out....

 

Almost a sure fire way to adjust rockers is...

1) Finger tighten them, stop at the instant you feel any resistance. Hold the rocker, tilt it towards the spring, then to the pushrod and make sure there isnt any play going that direction.

2) Turn the rocker bolt 1/8th turn, then tighten the lock, then turn another 1/8th turn. Do this for every one.

I've done this on several cars and have not had any issues. Numerous times on my own car, too.

If you need more help my AIM name is: CAMAROGUY502

If you already got it running, congrats!

 

I had the intake manifold off so I could see exactly which valves were open and close by looking at the lifters. I rotated the crank using a breaker bar on the balancer bolts and went really slow... every time an intake valve was open I adjusted the exhaust and vice versa and it worked very good!!! Finally got it done tonight and I just finished bolting up the intake manifold, can't wait to drive it!!!

The method I used to do the rockers was to turn the nut until I got no up down play on the pushrod. Then I went to between 1/8 and 1/4 of a turn after that but I have not tightened the poly locks yet. I will do that when I get the two replacement pushrods for the one I bent =) Is that an okay method of doing it??? I am pretty sure it is correct. I also spun each pushrod to make sure the drag was consistent on each valve just to have an added bit of assurance to know that my lashing was consistent. Also, 1/8-1/4 past zero lash is good for comp r's right? That's what I read, so that's what I followed.

I had a couple lifters that I could not get the plunger to go down on. I presume that's a good thing but I could get the rest to move with some force... does that mean those 2 lifters are still pumped up? Anywho, I'd like to know whatsup with that.

One more question, should I start the car with the valve covers off??? I'm almost sure I got the valve lash perfect this time but do people usually have to relash them or do you just start it and are good to roll? Thanks to all that helped!!!

 

I doubt you'll have to re-do anything... I would just put it all back together and go for a drive... Though, You probably should have tightened the lock before the last 1/4 turn(I woulda only done two 1/8th turns, but thats just me) Hope it works for ya!