I decided to try my first valve adjustment since one hasn't been done to my car in who knows how long, probably at least 40k miles. Only problem I'm having is getting the #1 piston to TDC. Does anyone know a quick and easy way to get it at TDC? Maybe another method since HT is known for coming up with better and quicker ways. I was using the crank pulley and looking for the timing marks but there's so much **** in the way I can't see the mark on the block and all I can find on the pulley are 2 yellow marks 180 degrees from each other and not the white mark described in my crappy Haynes book.
And also, when adjusting the valves it goes in firing order not cylinder order (#1, #2, #3, #4) right?

 

i would also like to know, my valves need adjusted bad haha

 

Nevermind, I took the cam gear cover off and just used the "UP" mark on it to get #1 piston to TDC then made sure the distributor rotor was pointing at spark plug tower #1. Adjusted them which kind of fixed my idle issue with the lights on but now it idles oddly, a bit low, with the lights off so I'm gonna re-adjust them tomorrow after it has cooled down again.

 

valve adjustments are expert status jobs.
go in firing order. (1342)


i wouldnt do it if i didnt know what i was doing.
your best bet is to get that crank pulley off and the timing cover off.
your dealing with thousandths of an inch. if its off, bad things could happen,
take your time and do it right,

 

Yeah that's why I'm gonna re-do them tomorrow after the car cools overnight and really take my time to get it right so I don't screw anything up. It is annoying though trying to hassle with the feeler gauge, flathead, and the 10mm wrench all at the same time.

 

Yeah just take your time, I did mine real quick when I was in a hurry after doing my head gasket in ~10-20 degree weather and my car was running like ****, so I decided to just redo it in my friends garage with the heat on, and now it runs like a champ with no ticking. Just be happy it doesn't really get cold where you are and take your time doing it.

 

you don't have to take the crank pulley off. thats going to extremes. valve cover, upper timing belt cover should be all you need to take off. 17m or 19mm socket on the crank pulley bolt with a long extension and just turn.