Phil,

You've got me thinking... dial indicator and feeler guages on hand, I may take the time to check this out as I put my ITB race engine together this month. I have all the pieces back from the machine shop, so I will be starting to build it up in the next week or so. I still lack a couple of pieces, but they ordered and on the way.

I don't use either the green book *or* your method when adjusting valves. I roll the engine slowly and adjust both valves on #1 when the valves on #4 "rock". Then roll 180 degrees and adjust #3 when #2 valves rock, 180 and adjust #4 as #1 valves rock, then 180 and adjust #2 when #3 valves rock. This does not require any peeking at the distributor rotor or the timing marks; just the valves themselves. Does this "equalize" adjacent valve spring pressures? No. Does it put the lifters for the adjusted valves exactly in the center of the base circle on the cam? No. But I've never had a problem doing it this way, and IMO it is the easiest way to accomplish the task. Anyway, I think I'll be taking a look when I get to that point in the buildup.

Gary L.
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1971 142E ITB racer, 1973 1800ES, 2002 S60 T5