I've read conflicting information about how tight the feeler gauge should feel when adjusting a valve. Everything from 'very slight drag' to 'a knife in peanut butter'. What should I be going for?

 

Both. Really...it's one of those things that feeling valves that are adjusted correctly would help, rather than going for a feel that's only been explained to you in words. I had the same problems. I'm guessing mine must be decent, since my truck runs good and quietly. You want to feel resistance, but it shouldn't be the least bit hard to pull. The biggest trick is making sure you aren't pulling crookedly at all. You'll definitely notice that you'll be able to pull the gauge out of the same gap, and one second it's pulling out with absolutely no resistance, then next it's caught and you can't pull it out. When there was no resistance, you had it perfectly flush. So keep going in & out until you're confident that you're holding the gauge level and getting an accurate feel.

But if you can, ahem...uh...get your feeler in somebody elses valves that are adjusted correctly to get a feel for how it should be.

Same goes for that as what I mentioned above, though. You've got to get the right angle, or the same valve will feel too tight to get the gauge out and so loose that there's no resistance all in the matter of a couple seconds. The loosest it feels should be where it's actually at, since if it's feeling loose you must be lined up right, if it's grabbing, you're dragging at an angle and getting hung up (unless there's no angle where it feels loose, then obviously it really is too tight, but I guess we're talking about correctly adjusted valves here, so that shouldn't be an issue).

 

When I did mine I just had to play with it. 83 is right...you have to make sure your on the correct angle of the valve. Keep the angel of the dangle right and you'll be ok. You should be able to move the feeler gauge around a bit but no slop. You should be able to get the feeler in after it's adjusted. Take it out and put it in again, if it's too tight it will not go in. Just a wee bit of drag...

Remember to check it again after you tighten the locking nut on the adjuster, this will change the gap. I did mine with the help of a buddy: he ran the screwdriver and wrench and I with the feeler. I had to readjust a few after they were tightened.
We got them really close first round. I'm thinking I have to readjust #3, was not happy with it and I have one that taps from time to time.

 

Thanks.

Also, the exhaust valves all seemed too tight. It seems strange that they would have either been adjusted too tight by whoever did them last or had somehow become tighter over time, but they definitely seem tight.

It was my first time taking off a valve cover and it took me a little while to get it off. I doubt everything was as hot as it should have been when i did it. I'll try getting it cold adjusted today to .007/.011 and see how that works.

Re: the gasket. If i put a fresh gasket in and run the motor a little bit and decide to try adjusting the valves hot, can I reuse that gasket, or do I need a new gasket every time i close the valve cover. And should I use FIPG in addition to the gasket I have?

 

I would do the adjustment cold and not hot, I'm sure it will make a difference. They, being the PO, may have adjusted them both the same...

As far as the valve cover gasket, you should be alright reusing it...just don't over tighten it. If it leaks then you know you need a new one.

 

Yeah you're fine reusing the old one. They get hard & brittle after a while is why you replace them, but as far as I know, opening & closing the valve cover on the same gasket a bunch of times is not a problem.

My understanding of adjusting the valves cold is that the only reason for it would be if it were a newly rebuilt head or you took it apart, and you need to get it close for the first start-up. Otherwise the correct way to adjust them is when they are warm. I know that the FSM says to adjust the valves again after they're warm if you've taken thing apart.

 

Warm...thank you, that could be the reason I get the occasional tap...I'll have to go over them again when I have an extra hour to do so.

 

Yeah if you check your manual it'll say it's a warm adjustment