Setting the tappets

[Andy Rose]

Hi, I am about to give my van a service and this involves setting the tappets. The book says that this needs to be done with the engine cold. I like the engine warm when I drain the oil and if I leave the tappets until the last job, the engine is still quite warm to the touch, but not at operating temp. My question is, does it make a difference, and if so do I set them closer or wider appart?

[bmcecosse]

The 'tappets' are down inside the block - I assume you are going to check/adjust the valve gaps. It's fine to do them warm - the block and the push rods expand at much the same rate - so the engine temperature is pretty much irrelevant. I advise exhausts at 15 thou and inlets at 12 thou - to give the exhaust valves and seats a better chance of surviving on unleaded fuel.

[Andy Rose]

Great, thanks for that..12 and 15 it is