Don’t try to out monkey the monkey,,,
Thats what lesson I learned this late afternoon, early eve.
Alright, FULL disclosure, but I am sure y’all already fingered it, even if ya didn’t have the details right. I DID IT TO MESELF,,,,
Went back to the “Book”,,, did things the way Chiltons and Haynes suggested, Double checked online with some of the GM forums,,, the 1-6IE thingy,,,, Park it on #1TDC, adjust #1, #2 #5 #7 intake valves, then #1 #3#4 #8 exhaust,,, ROTATE 180 degrees to #6 TDC, and adjust #6 #3 #4 #8 intakes, then #6 #2 #5 #7 exhaust ports.
HERE is where I figured what I did wrong both times prior.
I was on the #6 side of the adjustments and bumped #3 exhaust rocker,,,, It was loose as hell,,, Almost started to tighten it down,,,, CAUGHT MESELF,,, “I already had that right on the last round,,, Lifters bled off, LEAVE IT ALONE!!!!” and I realized that BOTH times before, I would monkey with the loose ones,,,,
She’s running smooth. has a couple of minor ticks from where I could/should/will pull the rocker covers and adjust WHILE RUNNING,,, But she is running smooth and glitch-free now. Started without the Camsensor or EGR plugged in, and fired right up SMOOTH,,,, shut her down, plugged those in,,, SMOOTH,,, GOOD TO GO,,, close up shop; getttin’ cold, test drive,,,
(And she has warned me of my next job,,, Starter motor,,, Fortunately, I HAVE ONE on hand,,,, Its just not wrenching friendly out there anymore; winds picking up, sunset is on hand, and a winter Alpaca-lipps is blowin’ in.)
Don’t try to out-monkey the monkey from Detroit,,,, that was my lesson this week.
Face, meet palm,,, SMACK!!!!!
time to get the fire built up for the upcoming festivities, make sure my shits in order,,, and move the truckums around so that Buffalo is back in her stall for the weather funs,,,, (that goofy hinge wont’ let the door seal proper, she leaks A LOT,,, want her undercover,,,,)
more laters,,, after my blushing face settles down some.
LLLLL!
(, ‘)
Dio's Workshop 
Had a nice reply going til I hit the wrong fargin key on this wore out f$%&()in laptop! Dam!!
Anyway, apologies fer the brain fart by not mentioning about the valve lash.
On the running valve lash setting when she’s warmed up – if’n ya have an old set of donor SBC valve covers, cut out the tops of ’em, and use ’em in place of the good uns. Thataway, they’ll hold the earl in while ya run the valves. Won’t be a dam smoke screen from the earl gettin on the hot manifolds (saves somma that high $$ earl, too😉).
Pologies again – gettin mighty dam rusty, I guess!🙃🥃🥂
Y’all take care,
Mike in FLA.
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January 23, 2026 at 6:43 pm
I don’t currently have any, (4.3l yes, not for 5.7 Those are short a cylinder,,,)It will be a few days anyways,,, Prolly not goin’ anywhere till monday, if then seeing how the temps are supposed to be in the basement all week. Will see. BUT, good advice, and I’ll be lookin’round for a set.
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January 23, 2026 at 6:47 pm
with all the crapola that one has in the way. Probably a bitch to do it when hot and running . But SBC like it mo better when running. Too tight would definitely give ya the problems you’ve been having .
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January 24, 2026 at 7:35 am
yup, lots-o-stuf in the ways, and most all of it required to run (or at least run and not burn itself up) That Odds side is the worst as the bracket that holds the AC needs moved just to get the cover off, (not in the way once cover is off but gonna get wet)
BUT, is whut’tis and
not today,,,
Snowin’ icky winterz in town and fires is warm, twucks is not. 🙂
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January 24, 2026 at 8:16 am
Well as long as your enjoying yee self. Chuckle.
Last year replaced the lifters on one side of our avalanche 5.3. Joyyyyy. who ever heard of a tourqe wrench that takes batteries???? Fortunately have a friend in service loaned me this and advised me of the torque sequence by degrees. Glad i went into the body side of vehicles. Chuckle.
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February 1, 2026 at 1:51 pm
Yah, those degree wheels are a pain, and Im not sure I trust the digital wrench versions (yup, they DO make a clicker type that reads degrees too.)
I do have a digi adapter style that has proven pretty consistent, but I LOVE my old Beam torque wrench. Simple, works, can be feild calibrated with screw driver , works, fool proof, works,,, did I mention it just works?? ROFL
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February 1, 2026 at 2:50 pm