i have a 400, oil pressure is good never runs hot...well just goofin off wheeling and i spun a 360 really fast...and then when i stopped it sounded weird. It has valve train tap just from listening to the valve covers, i figured it needs adjusting. The cold weather probably doesn't help too. But i would have thought that wouldnt throw off my idle too much (i don't know much about motors). It drives fine and still accelerates just about as good as it used too, but through the exhaust it sounds different and the idle dropped and almost died but its real fickle. For the idle problem i guess its either something happened with the carb, distributor, or a vacuum line came off...

is there anything i need to look for when i take the valve covers off to make adjustments...i have a manual for this motor, so what should i adjust?

im pretty confident i can find that idle problem though...i have the timing set right and its right on the mark on the balancer...ill check the vacuum. I just don't understand what would make it sound wierd and through the idle off just from doing 1 spin.

sorry for the newbiesh post

my truck does the same thing, whenever i goof off and spin it around turns it does this, idle drops to almost 500rpm instead of its 1000rpm and the left valve cover ticks a little bit, after letting it idle a bit more and taking it easy mine goes away and the idle goes back to 1000rpm. i know this dont help much but try taking it easy and see if it goes away

my 383 just did the same thing, only i was in a mud hole and came out of it hot, and just have hit pretty hard. My valves started to tap, so i figured it was jsut the roller rocker that needed adjustment, turns out the hydro lifters too a $hit

my 383 just did the same thing, only i was in a mud hole and came out of it hot, and just have hit pretty hard. My valves started to tap, so i figured it was jsut the roller rocker that needed adjustment, turns out the hydro lifters too a $hit

my 383 just did the same thing, only i was in a mud hole and came out of it hot, and just have hit pretty hard. My valves started to tap, so i figured it was jsut the roller rocker that needed adjustment, turns out the hydro lifters too a $hit

I was doing loops in the snow last night and my 400 does the same thing. The valve train starts to tick and the idle drops to about 500, and it goes away if you park it for a couple of minutes. I always blamed the idle problem on the shitty Edelbrock afb carb, they don't like anything but a nice level surface to run on. It's good to know that I'm not the only one. I think a cummins should fix all of my problem though :D

I have an edelbrock on my 460 and it doesnt like to spin donets either but i have never had this problem before???

whats up with this forum and it putting more then one reply/post? ive noticed it alot lately

I think it has to do with server speed/the fact that it doesn't take you to the thread after you post, for me it just takes me back to the damn reply screen and I hit post again - the multiple post thing

Back on topic - you might need to adjust valve lash if you're getting a tick, but with it being intermittent like that after you "spin" the truck around, I would think it might have something to do with the oil passeges/pump not being able to feed the top end when the oil sloshes to one side of the pan...and doing that may also cause some aeration of the oil.

As far as the low idle goes after that, can't really help you with that....

All in all, I wouldnt really worry too much about it if it's not ticking/idleing low all the time

Sorry for the newbie reply:flipoff2:

Can't adjust the valves. It's non-adjustable. Run the nuts down to the shoulders and that's as far as they go.

There are ways around that if you really must adjust them - but it's a hell of alot more time consuming

whats up with this forum and it putting more then one reply/post? ive noticed it alot lately

No shit huh? well i deleated the extras sorry guys.