I may have found out why the TR is so noisy on these cold mornings. I hadn't
rechecked the valve clearance after the engine rebuild (remember that I
didn't mess with the cylinder head). Today I check them and all the exhaust
valves are way out of spec -- about .020 compared to the .012 they should be.
Curiously the intake valves were pretty close, .007 - .009 on average.
The timing chain was on incredibly tight prior to the rebuild, and really
pressed down on the camshaft sprocket, so maybe the new chain and rebuild has
allowed the cam to settle back to where it should be. But why just the
exhaust valves....
Anyway, I need advice on measuring the clearance. It's hard to bend the
feeler gauge down between the lobe and the cam on the TR7, and if you push
hard enough to get it down there, you can also push the tappet downward and
get a false reading.
So, I'm inclined to buy another set of feeler gauges and bend them at right
angles to get a better line of attack. Then I can gently nudge the feeler
gauge between lobe and tappet and get a better meaurement -- I think.
Anyone got some advice to offer on this?
Already having fun driving the car around town, even though the heater
doesn't work...
Even funnier when someone asks what a Triumph is...
Bruce
1980 Inca Yellow TR7 5-speed convertible
Chapel Hill, NC
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