Valve adjustment

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The valves should be adjusted every 12 months, or per the Nissan factory Schedule. Also adjust the valves:

• whenever the head gasket is changed
• whenever any valve parts are changed or loosened (Valve seals, Rocker arms, Rocker shaft, etc]]

Adjust valves 0.013 in cold

1. • No. 1 TDC: Adjust valves 1,2,3,5 (counting from front of engine)
   • No. 4 TDC: Adjust valves 4,6,7,8

From the 1973 Nissan Factory Service Manual:

• COLD: 0.25 mm (13 thousands inch)

  NOTE: The 1971 manual has the cold specification incorrect.

• HOT: 0.35 mm (14 thousands inch)

If you are setting the tappet adjustment you should be able to put the timing mark at TDC and adjust four of the tappets then rotate the crank once back to TDC and adjust the other four. Details are below.

Helpful Picture

Procedure

1. Block the wheels, set the handbrake, and put the transmission in nuetral
2. Remove the Rocker cover
3. Turn the engine to the TDC mark.

   

   It's easiest to turn clockwise, but you can turn it either direction.

   • TIP: Grab the fan and turn it. It is very easy to turn the engine this way if you remove all four spark plugs, but this is not strictly necessary
   • See below for more methods on turning the engine
4. Wiggle the rocker arms. At the TDC mark, either the first two rockers will be slightly loose, or the last two will be. Adjust the four loose ones (See details on just how, below)

   Either

   • valves 1,2,3,5 (counting from front of engine)

   or

   • valves 4,6,7,8

   

5. Rotate the engine one full turn, again to the TDC mark
6. Adjust the other four loose ones
7. Replace rocker cover

Do not overtighten screws for rocker cover. Just finger tight.

ADJUSTMENT - Use a feeler gauge:

• You want it to just be able to slip in.
  • If it is a loose fit, tighten the rocker stud (straight screwdriver)
  • If it is very tight, very difficult to slip in, loosen it a bit
• After re-tightening the locknut, check the clearance again

TIP: You may need to do this several times on each 
rocker before getting the hang of it. This is normal.

Check for success: After replacing the rocker cover, Start the engine. Success is:

• Valves are quiet (no ticking whatsoever)
• Engine idles smooth

TURNING THE ENGINE
Use one of the following methods (in order of recommendation)

1. Turn the engine by grabbing the fan and turning. It's easiest to turn clockwise, but you can turn it either direction. If the fan belt is not loose, this works very well. It has the advantage of all methods in that you have fine control over turning the engine back and forth.
   • TIP: It is very easy to turn if you remove all four spark plugs, but this is not strictly necessary. If the plugs are in, you have to slowly turn it against the compression. But it works.
2. Use a socket and ratchet on the crank pulley with the tranny in neutral and turn it by hand. This is a good method, just don't forget to remove the wrench before staring the engine!
3. Use a bump switch hooked up to the starter (or try turning the key briefly). This is a hit-and-miss method with no fine control. Be sure to disconnect the power wire to the coil so it doesn't spark.
4. Put car in 4th gear and push/pull the whole car to make the driveshaft turn the engine until the marks line up.

Parts

No parts are needed. Usually you don't need a new rocker gasket, unless it breaks coming off. Most A-series rocker gaskets last forever.