Valves....This is what I did...

[Esther]

OK, my 86 was sounding a bit clattery so I decided to do a valve adjustment. I read the threads and the service manual and both said to do it with the engine running and at temp. If anyone can do this, you must be God-like! With the vibration from the motor, I could not figure out how to hold the screwdriver down to l tighten the valves. It bounced all over. I was able to stick the feeler gauges between the parts, but could not figure out how much play there was due to the engine vibration. Now my motor is not out of tune, it idles smoothly, nothing out of the ordinary.
What I did was turn the motor off and then tightened each valve 1/16th of a turn. I was thinking I'd have to do this a few times until my motor got quiet, but no. I only had to tighten one valve a bit more and all was good. I think I just got lucky. The truck sounds great and drives well. My problem is that I did not really learn how to do this the proper way. What is the secret? On motorcycles it is easy: You crank the motor by hand to top dead center and do your thing on the valves, badda bing, your done. Is there a simple way to rotate the motor to top dead center for each cylinder so I can take a batter feeler gauge reading. Can valve adjustments be done with the engine off?
John

 

[Butt Ugly Chuck]

On motorcycles it is easy: You crank the motor by hand to top dead center and do your thing on the valves, badda bing, your done. Is there a simple way to rotate the motor to top dead center for each cylinder so I can take a batter feeler gauge reading. Can valve adjustments be done with the engine off?
John

I did mine with engine off. Park on flat level ground and put the tranny in 4th. Then you can easily push the truck with your leg to slowly rotate the engine to proper orientation. I found that method a lot easier than using the starter motor to "bump" the engine small increments.
Butt

 

[2mbb]

you should search again. There are threads on how to adjust the valves with the engine off. Here's a post of mine: IH8MUD™ Forums - View Single Post - Valve adjustment done right?

You can do what BUC descirbes for moving the engine. I put the transmission in neutral, remove the spark plugs and use a wrench/socket on the alternator pulley nut, turning clockwise) to turn the engine over by hand. If the belt slips, I tighten it up a little.