40's 6 cylinder valve clearence cold

[Guest Ragtop]

Shop manual calls for a valve clearance of .011 to .013 hot. What clearance should I use cold? Also is there any easy way to set the valves? I feel like I need three pairs of infant hands to set them.

[A. Ballard 35R]

Assume you are referring to L head engine with valve adjustment on engine side. Best done with hot engine running and you are right, it can be frustrating. My best luck was with feeler gauge in place and then slowly tightening and checking to make sure that clearance hasn't changed. Thin and long valve adjusting wrenches are a must. Since there is usually uneven expansion when going from cold to hot it is advisable to adjust when hot.

 

Just my 2 cents and there are probably others with better methods.