Valve adjustment by piston position

[Bob G/Spanaway]

I've adjusted the valves this way a couple times and they run good but nobody else in my club does it and theirs seem to run good too.
They kinda sneer at me for wasting my time.
I'm doing another one tomorrow.
Which way should I do it?

 

[tmodelman]

With known old or unknown camshaft wear, and valve seats that have been buried by constant grinding over the years, the piston method is pretty good.

With a new or regrind, fresh valve job, just set the gap.

 

[JIM WI]

If the tops of your lifters are worn and "cupped", the gap can not be measured accurately with a feeler gauge. Mine are that way, so I adjust by piston position, also.

 

[William L. Vanderburg]

My lifters were cupped, so the local machine shop took them out and re-welded them to factory size. Ran nice.