Hot take: I used to swear by the old-school feeler gauge for valve adjustments on my 7.3 Powerstroke, but after burning a set last year, I switched to a dial indicator and it's way more consistent.

The feeler gauge method left too much room for error on worn rocker arms, so I made the switch after a buddy in the shop showed me his setup, and now I won't go back, what's your go-to method for setting valves on an older engine?

2 comments

2 Comments

jenny_jackson2d ago

Yeah, that bit about worn rocker arms is the whole problem. I had the same issue on my old Ford. The dial indicator takes the guesswork out because you're measuring actual lift at the pushrod, not just a gap that can change with wear. I use a magnetic base on the block and zero it on the base circle.

lucas_jenkins2d ago

Exactly, that magnetic base trick is a lifesaver for getting a solid reading. Worn rockers really do throw off the feeler gauge method, don't they?