Confirming rocker arm installation process for L6 230

[Praxiss454]

Here is my understanding of how I'm supposed to install the rocker arms. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

1. Rotate engine so #1 piston is at TDC
2. Rotate pushrod with one hand while tightening intake rocker arm nut with other hand.
3. Tighten until I start to feel resistance on pushrod.
4. Tighten one full turn more. (seeing conflicting info on this part. my 1965 GMC Maintenance Manual says 1 full turn. Online I see guys talking 1/2 to 3/4 turn.)
5. Do the same for exhaust valve on this cylinder.
6. Move on to the next cylinder, in firing order 1-5-3-6-2-4. Making sure the next cylinder is at TDC before proceeding.

Does this sound correct? My maintenance manual doesn't list this procedure anywhere that I can find.

Where does the specified torque value come into play? Seems like it must just be a value not to be exceeded.

[Praxiss454]

Well I just followed this above procedure so hopefully it was correct. one thing that I noticed is that cylinder 1 and 6, 2 and 5, 3 and 4 are all at top dead center as a pair. So that makes things a little bit easier this seems like a very imprecise way to set the lash. It seems like there should be feeler gauge involved rather than rotating the pushrod with my fingers trying to guess where the resistance starts.

[geezer#99]

Hopefully you set them with each piston at tdc compression. That’s when both valves are closed.
Best way to adjust them is to wiggle the rocker until it’s firm. Twisting the rod can be off quite a bit. Some people (like me) can twist the rod when they’re set at 1/2 to one turn.

[Praxiss454]

Originally Posted by geezer#99

Hopefully you set them with each piston at tdc compression. That’s when both valves are closed.
Best way to adjust them is to wiggle the rocker until it’s firm. Twisting the rod can be off quite a bit. Some people (like me) can twist the rod when they’re set at 1/2 to one turn.

Hmm the way you say TDC Compression makes me think I ****ed it up. I turned the crank so #1 appeared to be TDC but I don't know whether that was on the compression stroke or exhaust stroke.

So half of my valves are set correctly (compression stroke) and half are set wrong (exhaust stroke).

Short of turning the engine upside down and trying to look at the cam, how do I know if it's on the compression or exhaust stroke?

[geezer#99]

Info here.
https://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/...raulic_lifters

[Praxiss454]

Okay thanks, I got it right this time. I was not thinking clearly. The cam rotates at a different speed from the crank. Now everything is set correctly.