Gday, im only new to the website and also the datsun scene. i have stripped an a12 engine and began to rebuild it, i have all the bottom end back together. camshaft is in, cylinder head is back on, timing gear and cover is all back together, i have the oil pump and fuel pump intstalled also. i have fitted my pushrods and fitted the rocker gear back to the head. So at this stage i want to set my valve clearances. obviously at this stage of my build there is no pressure on my valves. so i am kind of unsure of where to start. do i need to wind the rockers down so they are contacting the pushrods and the valves, and then turn the engine to TDC compression stroke or what?? any help would be muchly appreciated.

You don't need any special pressure on them as you do with hydraulic lifters.

Just turn the crank to TDC mark, and adjust 4 of the valves, then turn it one full turn to TDC again, and adjust the other 4 valves. You just need to determine which TDC you start with.
The procedure is in every repair manual or in our tech article Valve adjustment.


By the way, if you put in a new camshaft and/or lifters, be sure when you start it to immediately run it at 2000 RPM for 15 minutes. Don't let it idle.

thanks mate much appreciated