Piston to valve clearance

RICK W · 08-02-2014, 09:20 PM

What is everyone running for minimum valve to piston clearance on 350 ss motors?

terry1 · 08-03-2014, 06:10 PM

Hi Rick.I was hoping to see you in Miramichi.
How's than engine coming?
Terry K

RICK W · 08-03-2014, 07:03 PM

Hi Terry

I just bought a short block a couple of weeks ago, working away at it, ordered some valves and intake gaskets. Bowtie block this time. How many cars showed up Saturday? Talk soon Rick

Ed Wright · 08-03-2014, 08:23 PM

.100" is safe.

JeremyDuncan · 08-03-2014, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed Wright

.100" is safe.

Way safe for Intake valve.

Usually .090 on Exhaust and .040 on Intake.

Bigger the camshaft diameter equals less flex and you can tighten clearances.

Sean Cour · 08-03-2014, 08:42 PM

I like to run them till they touch, then back them off a little!

Ed Wright · 08-03-2014, 09:41 PM

What Sean said^^^^^^^^^
Mine has .036" intake & .075" exhaust right now, but I hesitate to tell somebody that becauseI don't know how sharp they are, and I don't want to hear "I bent some valves doing what you told Me!", and him having to ask that......
No valve marks on my pistons, but no carbon there either. Just clean aluminium.

SS Engine Guy · 08-04-2014, 12:52 AM

You got some pretty good advice there. Only thing that I will add is to make sure everything in the valve train is up to spec and closely monitored. Also check P/V clearance at least 10 degrees BTC and 10 degrees ATC at each increment and log the readings for future reference. I usually log every 2 degrees to 20 degrees both ways and furnish that with other records on an engine. Good record keeping can make maintenance much easier.

SSDiv6 · 08-04-2014, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SS Engine Guy

You got some pretty good advice there. Only thing that I will add is to make sure everything in the valve train is up to spec and closely monitored. Also check P/V clearance at least 10 degrees BTC and 10 degrees ATC at each increment and log the readings for future reference. I usually log every 2 degrees to 20 degrees both ways and furnish that with other records on an engine. Good record keeping can make maintenance much easier.

What he said!

terry1 · 08-04-2014, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RICK W

Hi Terry

I just bought a short block a couple of weeks ago, working away at it, ordered some valves and intake gaskets. Bowtie block this time. How many cars showed up Saturday? Talk soon Rick

23 cars

08-02-2014, 09:20 PM	#1
RICK W Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 64 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Piston to valve clearance What is everyone running for minimum valve to piston clearance on 350 ss motors?

08-03-2014, 06:10 PM	#2
terry1 Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Moncton, N.B. Posts: 276 Likes: 24 Liked 24 Times in 13 Posts	Re: Piston to valve clearance Hi Rick.I was hoping to see you in Miramichi. How's than engine coming? Terry K

08-03-2014, 07:03 PM	#3
RICK W Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 64 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Piston to valve clearance Hi Terry I just bought a short block a couple of weeks ago, working away at it, ordered some valves and intake gaskets. Bowtie block this time. How many cars showed up Saturday? Talk soon Rick

08-03-2014, 08:23 PM	#4
Ed Wright Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sand Springs, OK Posts: 8,132 Likes: 896 Liked 389 Times in 168 Posts	Re: Piston to valve clearance .100" is safe. __________________ Ed Wright 4156 SS/JA

08-03-2014, 08:42 PM	#6
Sean Cour Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 445 Likes: 110 Liked 79 Times in 30 Posts	Re: Piston to valve clearance I like to run them till they touch, then back them off a little! __________________ Sean Cour T6066 ladle

08-03-2014, 09:41 PM	#7
Ed Wright Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sand Springs, OK Posts: 8,132 Likes: 896 Liked 389 Times in 168 Posts	Re: Piston to valve clearance What Sean said^^^^^^^^^ Mine has .036" intake & .075" exhaust right now, but I hesitate to tell somebody that becauseI don't know how sharp they are, and I don't want to hear "I bent some valves doing what you told Me!", and him having to ask that...... No valve marks on my pistons, but no carbon there either. Just clean aluminium. __________________ Ed Wright 4156 SS/JA

08-04-2014, 12:52 AM	#8
SS Engine Guy Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: usa Posts: 256 Likes: 1 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Piston to valve clearance You got some pretty good advice there. Only thing that I will add is to make sure everything in the valve train is up to spec and closely monitored. Also check P/V clearance at least 10 degrees BTC and 10 degrees ATC at each increment and log the readings for future reference. I usually log every 2 degrees to 20 degrees both ways and furnish that with other records on an engine. Good record keeping can make maintenance much easier.