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Valve Clearance: PRIZM

CAUTION: Check and adjust valve clearance with engine cold.
  1. Disconnect negative battery cable. Remove valve cover and gaskets. Rotate crankshaft until cylinder No. 1 is at TDC of compression stroke. Ensure timing mark on crankshaft pulley aligns with "0" mark on engine front cover tab.
  2. Valve lifters should be loose on cylinder No. 1, and tight on cylinder No. 4. If lifters on both valves are not as specified, rotate crankshaft one revolution (360 degrees) and realign crankshaft pulley mark.
  3. Using a feeler gauge, measure and record clearance between camshaft lobe and adjuster shim on intake valves of cylinders No. 1 and 2, and exhaust valves of cylinders No. 1 and 3. Ensure valve clearance is within specification. See VALVE CLEARANCE SPECIFICATIONS  table. If valve clearance if not within specification, go to step  5. If valve clearance is within specification, go to next step.
  4. Rotate crankshaft one revolution (360 degrees). Using a feeler gauge, measure and record clearance at intake valves of cylinders No. 3 and 4, and exhaust valves of cylinders No. 2 and 4. Ensure valve clearance is within specification. See VALVE CLEARANCE SPECIFICATIONS  table. If valve clearance if not within specification, go to next step.
  5. To adjust valves, camshafts must be removed. See appropriate article in ENGINES. Once camshafts are removed, remove lifters from lifter bores of valves out of specification. Go to next step.
    6. NOTE: Lifters are available in 35 different sizes, in increments of.0008" (.020 mm). Lifters range in size from.1992" (5.060 mm) to.2260" (5.740 mm).
  6. Using a micrometer, measure thickness of removed lifter. See Fig 1. Compare measurement with valve clearance recorded earlier. Select proper lifter thickness for require valve clearance. Repeat for appropriate valves. Install lifters and camshafts. DO NOT install timing chain at this time. Go to next step.
  7. Re-measure valve clearance. Ensure valve clearance is within specification. See VALVE CLEARANCE SPECIFICATIONS  table. Reassemble timing chain. To install remaining components, reverse removal procedure.
VALVE CLEARANCE SPECIFICATIONS

Application In. (mm)
Intake (1).006-.010 (0.15-0.25)
Exhaust (1).010-.014 (0.25-0.35)
(1) Adjustments made with engine cold.
Fig 1: Measuring Lifter Thickness (Prizm)
G99J03041Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
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