RE: [alfa] valve clearances with head off block?

["Jeff Greenfield" <alfaguy@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

This has been discussed here recently as well. This is the first I have
heard of this.

I've been working on mainly Alfas and some other European cars for 20+ years
now and have always set the valve clearances with the head on the bench when
things were apart. Never ran into a problem this way. I'm pretty sure on a
couple of occasions I've checked the clearances after the engine had been
run for a bit (always cold of course) and they always seemed to be pretty
darn close to (if not exactly) where I had set them previously.

Quite honestly, I can't really see how or why the clearances should or could
change just by bolting the head to the block. Maybe on an engine with a
multiple piece head with a separate cam carrier such as Fiats, or an MB
straight six, but not on an Alfa.

Then again, what do I know ... maybe I've been doing it wrong all these
years (on both fours and sixes)?

Jeff

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-alfa@domain.elided [mailto:owner-alfa@domain.elided] On Behalf Of
Watry, Andrew (LNG-SFR)
Sent: Tuesday, June 01, 2004 10:40 AM
To: 'alfa-digest@domain.elided'; 'tsahines@domain.elided'
Subject: [alfa] valve clearances with head off block?

I recently read in a 90s Alfa Owner that you shouldn't rely on valve
clearances set with the head removed from the block, because they will
change once you torque the head down on final assembly.  Anyone have
experience with this?  I've set them many times with the head off the block,
though honestly never thought to recheck them once the head was torqued
down.  It sure is easier setting them with the head off the block.  This was
in the context of V6s, but wonder if it's generally true, and specifically
true to 750-115 engines.  Thanks

Andrew Watry
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