Slick 60's

Trying to find out what the valve lash specs are on a 223.

Also, stupid question time.... is a 223 solid or hydraulic lifters?

I tried the "famed" run it hot, pull the valve cover off with the motor running, back the nut off til the lifter clatters, then tighten 1/4 to 1/2 of a turn. Boy did that screw it up. I honestly thought that it was missing on at least one cylinder it was running so rough.

Redid everything with the motor off but hot, adjusting to .011 clearence on the ends of the valve stems at open, and it runs smooth as a little tickled pink horse now. The previous owner had written .011 valve lash under the hood, but its faded and I can't make out if thats for both exhaust and inlet, or which one. I'd like to find out before I drive the truck too much.

the 223 has solid lifters, and the lash should be set at .019" according to the factory ford shop manual. anyone else have any input?

I believe .019 is correct for the solid lifters.

thanks for the info guys. Looks like I'm taking the valve cover off again.

since you have the manual open...

How often are you supposed to adjust the valves? every 10,000 miles? Every oil change? Every 6 months? (I put about 3000 miles on every 6 months in my current driving situation)

I started to read that Oil thread the other day, got too ticked off at it, and stopped. I've been putting Chevron 30W in it, is that still alright to do?

There was one last question I had, which for the moment has slipped my mind

thanks guys, where would I be without you?

.019 is correct on the valve lash, I've found that i need to adjust mine more often than I would like. I've also experimented with it a little and found you can really change the feel of the engine by setting it a bit closer or a bit looser (looser tends to chatter a little though). You get more low end power a little looser, and a bit more in the high-end if you tighten them down a bit more. (of course with a 223, the high end is only around 36-3800 RPM....)

Someone emailed the specs tome and that was 19 however mine are at 17 and runs great. I finally put a tach on it today and ran it down the freeway. I run about 65-68 at about 2800 rpm.

I've never run mine up at 3500-3800, the darn thing shakes like an old washing machine on spin when i get up around 3. I'm afraid I'd be in orbit if I went any faster.

Gonna go pop the valve cover off in a few minutes and see if I screw anything up.

http://fordsix.com/forum/

This is a good spot for info on Ford I-6's, I go there often.
Charlie

Don't like the self-lockers. Replaced all adjusters with ones utilizing a lock nut. The threads in the rockers are standard. I don't need to adjust near as often.
Fred

I'm actually a member there charlie, and I did a fair amount of searching there before I asked here.

For some reason this place feels more like home. I post here if I can help it.

I would always opt to have my rockers too loose than to tight. Good way to wear out your cam and lifters. Ive read the Lash was 19 but i don't remember where i read it. I need to do mine soon cause at idle i get a bit of chatter. Im gonna set mine at 17 Intake / 19 exhaust. Maybe 17 across the board but i haven't decide yet. All the old timers have told me "If you keep those lifters adjusted , that thing will run forever. " What the hell do i know !! That truck was 10 Years old when i was born so i guess they would know better than me.

was that .019 with the engine hot or cold? I assumed it was cold, but now i've got a LOT of valve noise (got progressively worse though, like the nuts loosening) and I'm wondering if I was supposed to do it .019 COLD.

Be careful running your lash too loose with a 223, they will jump out and bend the pushrods. I have replaced 2 in my 223 a because I said "I'll get to the valve lash tomorrow" and drove it anyway. Other than that pretty much an indestuctable engine. They sound sorta cool through a Cherry Bomb too.