Rebuilding a 1968 GTO Pontiac 400 Engine - Part 5 (Valve lash Adjustment) Quick and Easy

Adjusting the valve lash on a Non-Adjustable Rocker Arm setup. Press-in studs with roller tip rocker arms. Easy to do and get right the first time! I am using a hydraulic roller cam XR264HR-10, Comp Cams Hydraulic Roller Lifter Set (CCA-857-16) and COMP Cams (1451-16) Magnum Steel Roller Tip Rocker Arms. This is a mild setup with less than .500 lift and mild springs, so the press-in studs should work just fine.
Check out our Amazon link if you are looking to buy something. We get a small commission from Amazon for sending you over! amzn.to/3nWanYe
#compcams
#gto
#pontiac
#400
#butlerperformance
#doitmyself

[@Exotics-fruits]

Underrated

[@DoItMyselfGarage]

Thanks for watching!

[@anthonyellis3583]

Thanks for your video I’m hearing a lifter tapping on my 400 so i am going to sheik them like you did Thanks.

[@DoItMyselfGarage]

Best of luck! Still haven't fired mine up...crossing my fingers.

[@imrubberyoureglue3413]

Thanks for this, I’ve been confused on exactly how to do the valve lash since I replaced the guide seals. I have a chilton’s book from the 70’s and is very cryptic in its instructions for this. It basically just said to torque the nuts the same and fire it up.

[@DoItMyselfGarage]

Glad it helped! Once I realized how this worked, it made so much sense and gave me the confidence that I was doing it correctly. Thanks for watching!

[@apachebill]

Always wash out the push rods. There can be metal debris inside the ends from the fab process. I just spray them out with WD. Swish them in fuel. Whatever. Just clean them out. Used ones too. They’ll get sludge and crud build up in there. Blow them out before reuse.

[@DoItMyselfGarage]

Good point! Yeah, these were new and I realized that I didn't do that until it was too late. So many things to "remember" when doing an engine built.

[@patkillion988]

Thx! Very informative for us rookies...on what used to be a process I've always questioned. I like your approach. What number heads are those (16?) and where do they fall in the "performance" charts? 350 HP, 360 HP or 366 HP. What cam did you use...#41? I ask because my '68 is numbers matching, 4 Sp M20, 3.55 Safe -T -Track, Ragtop and Ram Air. I don't think it's a Ram Air II due to the build sheet and letters referring to "XS." (L 67??). I'd like to be able to speak with confidence at car shows etc. Thx...these questions are open for anyone to answer. Pat Killion

[@DoItMyselfGarage]

They are a #16, but the later small valve version, so they are not normally associated with performance. None of my drivetrain was original to the car. The issue that I ran into was that aftermarket Pontiac heads are about $1000 each. I opted to have a local OG hotrod guy port/polish the heads I had to help them breathe better. I only went with a cam that was just under .500 lift, so I'm probably not fully utilizing the stroker kit I installed. It has tons of torque and power for what I'm using it on the street and honestly keeping the tires from spinning is an issue already, so even more flow would probably get me in trouble. :) My rear is a 3.36 that I put in a JEGS limited slip carrier behind the TH400. I know this isn't the most optimal setup, but it got me back on the road with minimal downtime and cost for now. A hotrod is never truly "finished" and I'm sure I'll make changes in the future. Best of luck on your project!

[@robertclymer6948]

Hello!! I like your commitment to perfection. IMO, there is nothing wrong with going the extra mile when you are assembling an engine {$$$}. I had a 69 GTO Judge with a 400 ram air IV. Was that 400 a small block or big block? It was a very good engine and was pretty fast. Thanks for sharing. Cheers from Motown.

[@DoItMyselfGarage]

Thanks for the reply. Honestly I'm going a bit slow so I don't miss anything. Haven't rebuilt an engine since High School (80s). Pontiac only ever had one block size from the 265 all the way up to the 455. They varied the bore/stroke length and even the deck height at one point to get the 265 and 301. So technically all Pontiac engines of that era are small blocks.

[@groundzero4044]

@@DoItMyselfGarage I’m about to rebuild my 400 , what kind of cam / lifters push rods and rockers did you use ? Part numbers please

[@DoItMyselfGarage]

@@groundzero4044 I am using a hydraulic roller cam XR264HR-10, Comp Cams Hydraulic Roller Lifter Set (CCA-857-16) and COMP Cams (1451-16) Magnum Steel Roller Tip Rocker Arms. This is a mild setup with less than .500 lift and mild springs, so the press-in studs should work just fine. The pushrods were custom ordered after measuring for length from Butler Performance.

[@groundzero4044]

@@DoItMyselfGarage I appreciate the info , now days people don’t really share or exchange set ups or part numbers . Is like a god damn secret or something , once again I appreciate the info as I am building my very first Pontiac motor lol

[@DoItMyselfGarage]

@@groundzero4044 Some people feel like if they share what they used someone might blame them if it doesn't work on their car. I bought plenty of things that didn't work and honestly it was completely my fault. Best of luck with your build!

[@sjd7188]

Those are a torque to spec nut not a poly lock where you set clearance…

[@DoItMyselfGarage]

Appreciate the comment. Thanks for watching!

[@sjd7188]

@@DoItMyselfGarage thanks for doing pontiacs…

[@theshark2804]

So this a roller cam. I need info I’m looking to build a olds 455

[@DoItMyselfGarage]

I went with a Comp Cams cam. Working great! Bought it through Summit Racing. Lead time was better than most other places (about a year ago) Your cam geometry will depend on what lift/duration you are going for. Mine is very mild since I am using stock heads and wanted to run pump gas.

[@fullcircleperformance]

Yes, this is a hyrdaulic roller cam. You can tell by the rollers on the end of the lifters.

[@patkillion988]

Disregard the question about the cam...PKillion

[@DoItMyselfGarage]

All good! Let me know how your project turns out. You can always send photos to me on my Facebook channel by the same name DoItMyselfGarage. Patrick H.

[@lordsauto]

Get a better wrench lol.

[@DoItMyselfGarage]

Lol, had to watch the video again myself to see what you were referring to. Yeah, I need to invest in some better tools at some point. I think I have the remnants of at least 4 different misfit sets.😀

[@williamklein1221]

What you are doing has nothing to do with valve lash. What you are doing is setting the lifter preload.

[@DoItMyselfGarage]

Appreciate the clarification on terminology. Since this doesn't have solid lifters, then yes you are correct that this is just setting the pre-load.