Valve adjustment tips?, Do I need a trained monkey or what? Options

[mpoffers]

Got the car on jackstands, valve covers are off, I'm turning the engine and rocking the valves per instructions from a forum search. All is well.

Except I can't reach the valves. There's engine tin above, heat exchanger below, and suspension mount to the side. OK, I'm exagerating a little. I can reach the rockers, I can even get the feeler gage in and out. What I can't see how to do is get tools in there to do the adjustment. I might be able to get a wrench on the lock nut and get it loose, but I don't see how I could get it tight enough after I've made the adjustment. I definately don't see how I could hold the adjustment screw and tighten the nut simultaneously.

Am I missing something, or should I be recruiting the help of my 4-year-old-daughter? Her hands are pretty small.

Mike

[Dave_Darling]

I use a stubby flat-head screwdriver. I also use a ratcheting offset screwdriver I picked up from Sears. Something like this.

For the jam-nuts, I use a deep offset box end wrench to make sure I can clear the other adjusting lugs when loosening or tightening the nuts. Something like this, but obviously a different size.

I find that for some valves, I have to reach the cover from the back, lying my arm along the heat exchanger. Some of them I can stick the screwdriver in from the outside, and some I have to reach in from the front side of the engine. It can be a chore, but it's easier if the rear wheel is off the car.

--DD