Help adjusting 250 valves

[Isaiah92260]

Hello everyone! So I am going to attempt to adjust my valves on my straight 6 250. I've done some research, I more than likely have hydraulic lifters and my calves are adjusted to 0 lash. Is this all correct?
Also since my HBalancer doesn't have a bolt, how do I turn over the motor to its positions so that I can adjust the the valves? If anyone has any suggestions or advice or any good steps I should follow, please let me know! My truck has been making an ugly ticking sound and this gonna be my first time adjusting them.
Thanks everyone

[TJ's Chevy]

Drive the truck for about 30 minutes. Shut the truck off...pull the valve cover...turn the engine on again and adjust the valves while the truck is running. Loosen until they clatter then tighten until they get quiet...then 1/4 to 1/2 turn from there to set the preload. Done it this way for years...people try to tell me I'm "inexperienced" for doing it this way but Whatever. lol Works and long as your slow it won't hurt a thing. And you'll hear when the rocker is to loose...the tap will become alot louder...just tighten until the tap is quiet and Right when it gets quiet do a 1/2 turn pre-load.

[geezer#99]

I've done it while running for years.
Can be a bit messy.
Make some cardboard deflectors to keep the oil from splashing too far.
Also do this.
Adjust all of them like TJ says but don't tighten them 1/2 turn right away. Once they're all quiet. shut the motor down and then give each one a 1/2 turn.
Less chance of the motor wanting to quit that way.

[GRX]

Can you bump the ignition to spin the engine? Ditto on doing it while running. A piece of foil on the rockers helps minimize splash. I used to have a valve cover with slot cut in the top for all the common engines. Be sure to carefully check all the parts while in there. Wear at rocker ball, push rods ends, slots cut into studs, etc ...

[jayoldschool]

I do it with the engine off, in neutral. Spin balancer by hand, bring cylinder to TDC, adjust.

[Isaiah92260]

Thanks everyone.... I have a rubber gasket that I installed 900 miles ago.... Is it still good to reuse?

[Heavymetl]

Re-use the gasket. If it's not torn or hardened it's fine.

I've adjusted old-school SBC valves for years engine off and on the cam base circle, but never had any luck doing my old 250 with that method.

Adjusted them while it was running, and the result was a perfect running machine!

[Isaiah92260]

Thank you everyone again.... So while it's running I can loosen up the lock nut and everything? Trippy, I've been trying to look at videos but everything on your tube is of v8's and they are adjusting them cold

[Isaiah92260]

Does anyone know what I have these round lock nuts on my valves and how I can get these off?

['68OrangeSunshine]

Never seen that. Doesn't look like hexed nuts rounded off. Looks deliberate.
What year 250?

[cv65]

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

Never seen that. Doesn't look like hexed nuts rounded off. Looks deliberate.
What year 250?

looks kinda like somebody used nyloc nuts,is it a hexnut under the round nut or is it one nut?

[Isaiah92260]

Originally Posted by cv65

looks kinda like somebody used nyloc nuts,is it a hexnut under the round nut or is it one nut?

It is one. The wired thing was that they didn't restrict my adjustments that I wanted to make. I think they just keep my valves from loosing up. Come to find out have two push rods that don't get any oil. Might be clogged

['68OrangeSunshine]

Pull the side plates and inspect your lifters.

[Isaiah92260]

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

Pull the side plates and inspect your lifters.

Great idea to mention thank you, I have to replace my push rod cover seals, might as well kill two birds with one stone

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by Isaiah92260

Great idea to mention thank you, I have to replace my push rod cover seals, might as well kill two birds with one stone

Be sure to keep your lifters in order so they can go back in the same slots. Push rods, too.
An empty egg carton works good for lifters. I punch holes in a cardboard box for the rods. Note the numbers.

One trick I learned on this board --a couple of days ago-- is to replace the internal springs [from a good new lifter] if the springs are shot in the old lifter, but saving the outer case so it goes back into its same cozy relationship with the cam.

[Isaiah92260]

Thanks bud! Great advice.
My only last question is where can I found something to keep the oil from splashing? Everyone said catboard or foil, but I've heard there are some type of clips?

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by Isaiah92260

Thanks bud! Great advice.
My only last question is where can I found something to keep the oil from splashing? Everyone said catboard or foil, but I've heard there are some type of clips?

They sell those clips at hot rod parts shops, but I've tried them and they don't work very well:
www.jegs.com
Jegs brand p/n 80517 $8.99 for a set of 16.
or
MrGasket p/n 1015 $13.99 for only 8.
The MrGasket type I've tried. You have to buy a second set of 8 more to cover the 12 valves on the L6 head. Also they tend to fly off anywhere. Only 1 star.
The other type I never saw before, and they got a second user reviewer star, but that's out of 5.

Old school: Bandanna and goggles, like Barney Oldfield.
Best idea: Get a second L6 valve cover from junkyard and cut the top out of it. I once got one from a junkyard guy for free [after I bought a tranny/transfer case for $400] telling him what I wanted to do with it. He liked my idea so much he didn't charge for the valve cover. I still haven't cut it out yet.

[GRX]

Those are just a different style rocker nut. Stock nuts, of either type, are swedged out of round a bit so they do not back off so easily.

[Isaiah92260]

Originally Posted by GRX

Those are just a different style rocker nut. Stock nuts, of either type, are swedged out of round a bit so they do not back off so easily.

Makes a lot of sense!! Thank you for the example, wondering why just that too part is white though. Thank you

[cv65]

Originally Posted by GRX

Those are just a different style rocker nut. Stock nuts, of either type, are swedged out of round a bit so they do not back off so easily.

New one on me Ive only seen the nuts that are full hex and swedged,you learn something new everyday thanks

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by GRX

Those are just a different style rocker nut. Stock nuts, of either type, are swedged out of round a bit so they do not back off so easily.

Looked like a 2-piece from angle on Isaiah's first pic.