Valve lash questions

[dcdoug]

I need to do my first valve lash adjustment (427FE, solid lifters, "B" cam, iron block and heads, standard bore/stroke, pertronix ignition, 11:1 compression) and have a few questions and unfortunately I just found out that my engine builder passed away in January (RIP Dwight Powell - neat guy if any of you ever had the luck to meet him).

Lash specs for my engine is .025". And I know that the range given by Ford (according to the Steve Christ book) is .025" - .027" with the higher end typically for setting the lash cold, which is how I plan to do it.

So my questions (excuse any dumb questions since this is my first time adjusting the lash):

1) After I set the lash and tighten it with the lash wrench, what is the proper final torque for the bolt? (I will recheck the lash to be sure it stayed in the correct position after torquing the bolt).

2) When finding TDC for each cylinder, is there any problem with backing up the engine a bit if I go to far? Or is TDC not that sensitive? After pulling the plugs, and getting #1 on the compression stroke, my plan was to use a wooden dowel in the spark plug hole to determine TDC for each cylinder. If I feel the piston starting to go back down, can I back it up? Not sure this is even possible, but I have seen it suggested, although I have also read that you should never back the engine up. Thoughts? Suggestions?

3) Lastly, since I can no longer talk to my engine builder and don't know what my spark plugs are gapped at, any recommendations? I will check the gap on all the plugs and can probably figure it out, but thought I'd ask. I have read .035-.040 is a good starting point. Agree?

Feel free to mention anything else that I might be missing.