CK5
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Balancer timing marks don’t line up with TDC
- Thread starter Jake_C_
- Start date
If the firing order is good, next am wondering about valve adjustment. You did a vacuum reading, how did the needle behave ? was it nice and smooth, no ticks or jumps ?
It was pretty steady, I wouldn’t say there were no ticks though, it would obviously move with throttle but more or less stayed put while idling.
My timing mark tape is supposed to come in today, it’s going to help me recheck valve adjustment later today since I believe it has marks every 90°.
Current plan is to check voltage at the distributor, check the wires with an inline tester, and check the plugs to see if any are wet/cracked/scratched. I’ll see what that turns up and go from there.
Your profile says 1988, but the pics I see are 1970's. They used to have a resistor to power the coil and some have made the mistake of powering an HEI conversion off that, which gives poor performance. Just something to check if you don't already know.
Maby rockers are a little tight, i would check lifter preload.
It’s an 88 being converted to a 74. Rebuilt motor with carb. It’s been awhile but I believe my power wire for the distributor is a keyed 12v from the fuse box.
Checking this today, going to 0 lash plus half a turn.
Pulled the valve covers off in preparation to adjust the valves, rockers should never have lash right? Some of them have a tiny bit, some also look awfully crooked to me. They should be self aligning or whatever that’s called. Planning on resetting and marking them. 
Yes the rockers should self align, and be relatively straight. I lash hydraulic lifters by tightening until they loose the lash, the 1/16 turn increments while watching the vacuum gauge. If it drops vacuum, back it off a 1/4 turn
Meaning you’re adjusting while it’s running?
Yes. Either torch out a set of old valve covers or get the clips that attach to the rockers. Mr Gasket use to make them
If you're coordinated enough you can roll the valve cover off and leave the lower lip inside the lip of the bottom of the head
Interesting, I never knew that was a thing.
Those round push rod holes in the head require self centering rockers or push rod guides. Your easiest get is stamp stock self centering rockers.
I wouldn't run it any more till you get them
I wouldn't run it any more till you get them
I’m pretty certain my rockers are self centering, I’ll pull one and send a picture later on.
IDK they look like reg gen 1 rockers to me. If they are self centering rockers something is really really wrong, no rocker should be as off center as some in you picture.
@Wes Harden you're right, they’re not. 
So I thought they were because I remember seeing the notch in them and the ones in @Bent77 picture looked familiar. Turns out it’s because I kept all my old rocker arms when I rebuilt the motor. One on the right is what’s in it now. I think the guy that did the machine work gave them to me? It was too long ago. I should have all 16 self centering ones. so what reasons are there for not just swapping them all out?
So I thought they were because I remember seeing the notch in them and the ones in @Bent77 picture looked familiar. Turns out it’s because I kept all my old rocker arms when I rebuilt the motor. One on the right is what’s in it now. I think the guy that did the machine work gave them to me? It was too long ago. I should have all 16 self centering ones. so what reasons are there for not just swapping them all out?
yes swap in 16 self centering ones. If you mean swapping out for new, it would depend on the wear of the used self centering rockers.
It should run much better with the correct rockers. Give the valve stems a look over, make sure no damage. Check and make sure all the valve keepers are in place, and the retainers are well seated. Some of those rockers look like they may have been pushing on the retainers.
