Cant loosen valve, on rebuilt engine Options

[ericoneal]

We, walterolin and I, were trying to adjust the valve on my newly rebuilt engine tonight and we couldnt get the intake valve on #1 to loosen. We found TDC, 0 mark on the fan and #1 exhaust valve adjusted just fine. The problem is that I loosened the screw completely on the intake valve and I still could not get the feeler gage in there and it wouldnt budge (slightly rattle) when we tried to shake it by hand. Its REALLY tight.
After that we turned the engine so that the valve was for sure all the way open, and nothing. The screw is all the way backed out and its completely tight no matter what position it is in.
What could cause this? My engine builder told me that he adjusted all of them to .006, so it obviously was correct at some point.

At a loss here..

THanks

[Bulldog9]

Having just finished this is fresh in my head.

Dont worry about marks, they are irrelevant until confirmed go off the #1 cyl at its top of travel (TDC) and note the position of the rotor.

Imagine the distributor ROTOR is a clock hand. When at TRUE TDC, the rotor (firing end w/metal) will face at what we call 1200 (though when facing the motor from the rear of the car it will likely be more like 200 with a Bosch dizzy or if you are running a Pertronix billet like I am, will be at 1100).

At TRUE TDC the #1 piston is at the top of its travel and both valves are closed, meaning there is no pressure on the lifter/pushrod/rocker assembly. Once you break loose the locking nut you should be able to back out the adjuster.

The ONLY other time the #1 CYL is at the top is when the rotor is 180degrees out and it will be facing 600. The piston may be at TOP, but one of the cam l

If you are truly at TDC and still cant back out the adjuster, just unbolt the whole rocker assembly for inspection. It really is easy.... If you are at true TDC, you may have a stripped/galled adjuster or your friendly mechanic used something like JB weld or super hard threadlocker when he put in the adjuster (this happened to me once)

My guess is you are 180 out, and likely it is the distributor pinion. IF this is the case, you will need to take out the distributor, AND the drive pinion, and realign them. Find your TDC/#1 mark on the distributor, turn the rotor to that mark, then align the drive (only ONE way for this to go together, and re-install. Will take some giggling and possible rocking of motor).

This is a job you need a second set of hand/eyes for. You said this is a NEW/rebuilt motor? Where is the mechanic on this?