Bob said:
IMHO.... If you do several of these procedures a year as a mechanic, then you probably can do a satisfactory job with the two stop, However, if for most who post on this site, this will be the one and only time they will do this in their life, use the 8 stop. In the greater scheme of things for a DIY how much time are you saving and whose time is it doing the 2 stop vs the 8 ??? Based on my experience, MERC ( and most other manufacturers) only do enough to get thru the warranty. It's YOUR engine take the extra time.
I've done both ( as an experiment) and found I was more comfortable with what was actually happening in my engine with the 8 stop.
Sooo... if you have a "rate to make" ( and you don't have to live with the results) do the 2 stop... if you have all the time in the world and have to live with the results... do the 8 stop.
Bob, well said. You and I are willing to think out-side-of-the-box, whereas the younger guys, who view the manual as the gospel, are more prone to staying within the box.
Jon, you said earlier; "
I tend to go with the 8 stop method", and I think that is wise.
With your best interest in mind, I'm going to elaborate on this for you:
SBC V-8 with hydraulic cam followers (aka lifters).
Firing order is
1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2.
The goal..... set the depth of the cam follower's hydraulic plunger.
Mark off your harmonic balancer in increments of 90* from the TDC marking.
Remove all spark plugs.
Bring #1 piston up to TDC on Compression stroke.
Must be on the C/S!
(both followers are within bottom of base circle..... just where we want them to be)
Adjust both intake and exhaust rocker arm nuts as to find ZERO valve-stem-to-rocker-arm lash.
Further adjust both rocker arm nuts until the push rod sets the cam follower plunger to the prescribed depth.
(there is approximately .100"+ total plunger travel.... the math takes this to around .040" or so plunger depth)
Next..... roll crank 90*.
Do same to #8.
Roll crank another 90*.
Do same to #4.
Roll crank another 90* and repeat and continue right on down the firing order.
It may take you 2 or 3 minutes longer to use the 8 stop. However, it ensures that the followers are within bottom of base circle, and it reduces the likelihood of any errors that may occur with the 2 or 3 stop method.
When used correctly, you will not need to go back through them dynamically!
I have been using the 8 stop method since around 1965 or so. It has never failed me nor anyone who I have shown it to.
I have never used the 2 or 3 stop method because I could see that it is not nearly as accurate.
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