Curiosity got the best of me. As some of you know i have been hearing a strange lifter like rattle. I pulled my tappet cover and lo and behold the rocker arms on the front cylinder are as loose as a goose. I am going to the parts store to get a feeler guage. but i am certain from just looking it the clearance is way over 20.
Does anyone know how to acertain TDC on the 2003 SO engine??? While i have it down im gonna try to run the whole rack if i can acertain the TDC info.

 

Yup. problem solved. #1 cylinder exhaust was 40, intake valve was 18. #4 cylinder was out a little exh 28, int 14. some of the valves on other cylinders seemed a bit tight, but i left them alone. i only adjusted those that were looser than specs as i was unsure of TDC.
I would like to rerun the whole rack as it should be done. But this experiment was a success. the offending lifter rattle is gone. It still sounds like a diesal but is a lot quieter through the entire rpm range.
I am now wondering why they should be needing adjustment this soon tho. only 12000 miles.

 

There's a TDC mark on the crankshaft damper. Rotate the engine (clockwise) until this mark is at the top (12 o'clock). If both #1 rockers are loose, you're good. If not, rotate the engine clockwise another 360°.

Once you have #1 at TDC compression, intake valves on cylinders 1,2, and 4 should be between .006" and .015". Adjust to .010" if out of spec. Exhaust valves on cylnders 1,3, and 5 should be between .015" and .030". Adjust to .020" if out of spec.

Next, rotate the engine another 360°, and adjust intakes on #3,5, and 6, and exhaust on #2,4, and 6, using the same specs as above.

 

With the TDC mark on the damper straight up, check rockers on #1.

If they are loose, check lash on this group; intake 1,2, 4 and exhaust on 1, 3 and 5.

If rockers on #1 are tight, then check this group; intake 3, 5, 6 and exhaust 2, 4 and 6.

Then rotate engine 360, and do the other group listed above.

I have no idea why they could be out of spec so soon... Measured with engine cold?

Glad you found your problem.

 

Thanx for the info guys. I saw the mark on the damper but would have never figured to just put it at 12 oclock. i was sure there had to be timing guage or something to line it up with.
They may have been loose since i bought it. My truck has the infinity sound system and it is sooooo much superior to the one i had in my silverado. I usually played it very loud and rarely listened to the engine untill the day i heard a low rpm knock which turned out be poor fuel. but i started listening for probably the first time after that.