5veinte1 Posted October 11, 2017 Report Share Posted October 11, 2017 Hi to everyone i recently purchased a 521 with an L18 that has the peanut head, and the weber carb setup, all with essentially zero time on it. long story. i was told that the valves need to be adjusted, and i have no idea how to do it. any help is sincerely appreciated. thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted October 11, 2017 Report Share Posted October 11, 2017 http://community.ratsun.net/topic/16539-l-series-valve-adjustment/ 1 Quote Link to comment
d.p Posted October 11, 2017 Report Share Posted October 11, 2017 Tip buy shorty wrenches (I think 17 and 13mm is what use), otherwise getting them on the lock/adjuster can be a bitch. You can take the battery out to make it easier. 1. Remove valve cover 2. Turn motor to TDC #1 3. Adjust 4 valves ( lob pointing up) 4. Turn motor one full turn 5. Adjust other 4 valves COLDIntake......... 0.008"Exhaust......0.010"HOT (warm motor thoroughly)Intake.......... 0.010"Exhaust...... 0.012" Quote Link to comment
Stoffregen Motorsports Posted October 11, 2017 Report Share Posted October 11, 2017 If they haven't been adjusted in a long time, getting the lock nut loose might be a pain. Snap-On sells a special Datsun L series crowfoot style wrench that fits a 1/2" ratchet. I have one and have used it hundreds of times. Adjusting L series valves requires a bit of nuance and takes a bit of time to learn how to do correctly. 1 Quote Link to comment
racerx Posted October 11, 2017 Report Share Posted October 11, 2017 First, go on you tube and type datsun 510 valve adjust. Seeing it will give you a better idea. You may want to do it cold first, its recommended hot adjust but it takes some getting use to if you do this hot. Also write on a piece of paper, E I I E E I I E, to check of which one you checked a adjusted and also write down measurement for each valve. Someone said 13mm, its 14 mm. The stubby open end wrenchworks better, you may have to take out the battery since it can get in the way. The main thing is that you adjust when #1 piston is at Tdc at compression stroke. 1 Quote Link to comment
banzai510(hainz) Posted October 11, 2017 Report Share Posted October 11, 2017 long as the cam lobe is close to pointing up you can slide a feeler gauge under there. Fuck doing it hot. no need to get to TDC. I dont know why that is mentioned long as you know they all done. Personally I can go by feel if they too loose(noisey). or too tight(loose a cylinder compression) Quote Link to comment
5veinte1 Posted October 11, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2017 Thank you to everyone that replied, now I have something to do this weekend! 1 Quote Link to comment
5veinte1 Posted October 13, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2017 How often should they need to be adjusted? Quote Link to comment
Crashtd420 Posted October 13, 2017 Report Share Posted October 13, 2017 I'd be interested in hearing that answer too.... I guess the book should say if we dig one out.... sound from the valve train will probably be the indicator that you wanna check them again.. I plan on checking mine every oil change... if not sooner... and then decide how long I go between checks as well as listening... then put together my own maitnentce schedule... Quote Link to comment
d.p Posted October 13, 2017 Report Share Posted October 13, 2017 I think the book says every 3k? Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted October 13, 2017 Report Share Posted October 13, 2017 Every 15K miles or less. Sound is only an indicator if they get loose. If the get tighter they will be quieter. Tight is very bad. Valves (mostly the exhaust) are cooled by conduction with the valve seat when they are closed. A tight valve may ride on the cam and not quite close. Exhaust will leak out from the poor seal and where it passes will get VERY hot. The valve face will erode and often crack and even pieces can come off. . Quote Link to comment
5veinte1 Posted October 13, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2017 Very interesting, thank you for the feedback. I would think that 15k or so would be about right. If you rewind to back in the day when these engines were prevalent, known issues such as valve adjustment at every oil change would be a turn-off to would-be buyers I would think. The engine in the running 521 I recently bought was supposedly rebuilt with essentially warm-up time on it, so I want to get this right. Thanks again. Quote Link to comment
wayno Posted October 13, 2017 Report Share Posted October 13, 2017 The VW bug I had needed the valves adjusted all the time, for how long I owned that car it sure broke down a lot, but I drove it hard. Quote Link to comment
Crashtd420 Posted October 13, 2017 Report Share Posted October 13, 2017 Hell back in the day a mechanic actually tuned cars instead of just replacing parts... Oil change, points adjust, timing check, valve check, grease fitting greased, drum brakes, etc.... Quote Link to comment
racerx Posted October 13, 2017 Report Share Posted October 13, 2017 Today they have sensors. Quote Link to comment
Crashtd420 Posted October 13, 2017 Report Share Posted October 13, 2017 Today they have sensors. That's my point and half the problem.. if they can't plug a computer into it to tell them what part to change most have no idea what to do.... Quote Link to comment
Roadster-ka Posted October 13, 2017 Report Share Posted October 13, 2017 I was a line tech from 74 to 82. We were adjusting valves at 12k intervals. I've seen Datsuns towed in because engines would not start due to neglected valve adjustment. Intake valves were down to only 3 or 4 thousands of an inch. After adjustment, engines started normally. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted October 13, 2017 Report Share Posted October 13, 2017 I just did mine for the first time this spring. They were all just barely slightly loose. Quote Link to comment
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