• Home
  • Crane USA
  • Our Websites
    • APD
    • Holley Australia
    • Quickfuel Australia
    • Magnafuel Australia
  • FAQs
  • Where To Buy
  • Cam Forms
    • Street/Drag Form
  • 0

Engine_08

What is a Quick Way to Check Valve to Piston Clearance on an Assembled Engine?


Low tension checking springs, Part Number 99881-2, must be used (instead of your normal spring) to mock up your valve train and to check the piston to valve clearance on the engine. Assemble the valve train and verify correct lifter preload or valve lash. By mounting a dial indicator on the cylinder head with the plunger's tip on the valve spring retainer, you can quickly check the clearance.

Hand rotate the engine through a complete cycle (two rotations of the crankshaft), stopping at several points before and after Top Dead Center (T.D.C.) to check the valve clearance. The least amount of clearance will usually occur between 15 degrees before T.D.C. and 15 degrees after T.D.C. This also provides a graphic illustration that gross valve lift does not determine piston to valve clearance, as the piston is fairly far down in the cylinder when maximum valve lift is reached.

By pushing the rocker arm down with your finger, the valve will contact the piston. The amount of movement shown on the dial indicator is the valve clearance at that point of engine rotation. Rotate the crankshaft a few degrees and re-check the clearance. As the piston moves through this area, the dial indicator reading will lessen, then become larger as you rotate the engine past the critical point. The shortest reading you get is the actual valve to piston clearance.

Camshaft Break-In

Click to read more:

Flat Tappet Camshaft Break-In Procedure

Reasons and Causes for Cam Failure

Holden V8 Cams

Powering Australia’s TOUGHEST HOLDEN V8s for over 30 years!

**UPDATED 1/8/16**

>>Download The Holden V8 Cam Listing!

>>Cams Roller Lifters For Holden V8 Engines

Blue Racer Cams

>>Computer-Designed Cams for Street Performance!

>>Download the Blue Racer Cam Listing here!

New Products

New Product—Break-In Engine Oil 10W-40

NEW Viton Seals

New Hi6RC

New Hydraulic Roller Lifters

ULTRA-PRO™ ROLLER LIFTERS

GOLD RACE™ Rockers

Tech Bulletins

Currently Available Bulletins:

 

NEW - Flat Tappet Camshaft Break-in Procedure

 

NEW - Reasons and Causes for Cam Failure

 

New Aluminium Roller Rocker Arms Available

 

New Generation Of Enhanced Hydraulic Roller Lifters

 

Steel Distributor Gears for use with Cast or Billet Cams

 

Flat Tappet Camshaft Break-in Procedure

 

Adjusting Hydraulic Lifter Pre-load

 

Three Distributor Models Cover Most Everything from Street to Speedway!

 

Ignitions for Racing and Street Applications

 

Cam & Lifter Recommendations

 

Crane’s Always Known How to Make Cams Go Rump, Whap and Thump!

 

Valve Spring Retainer Height Chart!

 

Mechanical Roller Lifters For Street & Competition!

 

HELP

  • FAQs
  • Crane USA
  • APD
  • Where To Buy

Contact Details

Automotive Performance Distributors
167 Railway Tce
Mile End South
5031 South Australia

Ph. 08 83635566
sales@autopd.com.au

About Us

Automotive Performance Distributors Pty. Ltd.(Formerly Crane Technologies Pty. Ltd) was set up in 1997 as a Joint Venture with Crane Cams in the USA, to distribute the range of Crane products to retailers & wholesalers throughout Australia.

Automotive Performance Distributors is 100% Australian Owned and Operated.

2019 Automotive Performance Distributors Scroll to Top