1965 Dodge Dart

About a year ago I was having trouble with my dart while it was idling after warm up. I was suggested a valve adjustment and that did the trick. Its been almost a year and between 4 and 5000 miles. Im starting to get the same problems I had a year about with the rough idle after warm up so my question is how often should I get a valve adjustment? Is it based on X amount of miles, the climate, certain amount of months, etc...

Thanks!
-Eppy

If at all possible, you shouldn't "get" a valve adjustment, you should do a valve adjustment. The knowledge of how to do it correctly is no longer at all common, and if you're paying a general mechanic to do it the odds are it won't be done correctly. See valve adjustment procedure. A valve adjustment should last several tens of thousands of miles, but the adjustor screws can loosen up so they no longer remain in position, and when that happens the adjustment doesn't last. Also, if exhaust valve recession begins, it accelerates, and this will tighten up the effective adjustment and cause rough idle.

There are many other things that can cause a rough idle, especially if your Dart still has original breaker points/condenser type of ignition. Electronic is much better and is a very worthwhile upgrade. See HEI upgrade. Tune-up parts and technique suggestions in this thread. Carburetor operation and repair manuals and links to training movies and carb repair/modification threads are posted here for free download.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Yeah I was planning on doing it with a friend who's a mechanic. I was just going over that thread that you sent on the valve adjustment. I did switch to a electronic ignition system around a year ago as well. Thanks again Dan you've helped me a lot today!

hey Dan!
I did the valve adjustment yesterday and now the dart runs amazing! The percision gauging with .009/.011 and .019/.021 are so important to doing this right. Took me about 5 hours to get them perfect but it was well worth it! I think when I took it to the shop to get the valves done last year the guy didn't do them with the engine running. They were extemtly tight. Anyway thanks again Dan!

Since it seems resolved I'd like to piggyback on this thread.

I did a valve adjustment on my '80 when it had either 86k or 186k miles (can't really know how many miles, but I think it's the former). Signs were thsat it had never been done in the life of the car. Is there any reason why after that long without an adjustment that I might want to go back in there after 10k miles to do a double-check?

To me, it seems like the same kind of thing as doing several oil changes on a car to clean it out after it has sat for a long time with oil.

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Not the same at all. If you didn't encounter any loosey-goosey adjustor screws, and you did the adjustment correctly, and you have no indication (rough idle or clacking lifters) that the adjustment is off, leave it be.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

I'm rechecking the valves because after a few exits on tue freeway it started to get that rough idle again. I'm guessing the engine wasn't hot enough when I did them yesterday. Do I do the adjustment in park with a low idle or in drive with a low idle?

It would not be safe to do the adjustment in gear. Do it in Park!

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

This is why I like my vws. You adjust them cold in the morning. On the good ol comfort of your back. With no oil to worry about.

man I just can't get these things...Maybe I just dont have the feel tto gauge them properly. Thanks for the info anyway Dan!