Valve Adjustment Issues... Video Included

[Timp]

I went ahead and did my first valve adjustment ever. Seems like I read 5 different opinions on how much 'resistance' there should be with the feeler gauges. I settled on the 'slight resistance' with a .010. I couldn't shove a .012 gauge in there. I did notice that there was a tiny bit of play in the rocker arms along the camshaft. The engine was cold. Not sure how much else I can say. And here's the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXpc-I8VAlk

This doesn't sound as bad as some others I've heard, but what worries me is a very slight 'tap' or 'knock' sound that you can kind of hear in the video. Some of that might be my hand moving the around, but it is definitely making an irregular tapping sound. The idle went up to 900 - 1000 as well. The engine seems a little bit more sluggish as well, but that could just be me. 'Chugging' is the only word I can think of to describe it.

[89 e30]

M20s always have noisy valves.

[Timp]

M20s always have noisy valves.

I know that, and I'm totally ok with it. But did you hear those taps? Also, the idling is up to 1000 RPM.

[LagunaVert]

Ticking goes away as the engine warms up if the are adjusted well, but some upper engine noise is unavoidable with these bastards. You want no tick go 24v. I have learned to love the noise. Just keep them eccentrics to spec and its not too bad. I found that if I crank the engine(Manually) a half dozen times, then check and adjust again, things smooth out.

[Timp]

Right, that's a good point. I should have taken her on a drive longer than 3 minutes. Do you think that a warmer engine will smoothen out this 'chugging' feeling I get in first gear? It just seems less smooth off the line. Also, the idling seems more abrasive. The car shakes a bit more at 1000 RPM. Could that be a vacuum leak somewhere?

[valleymotorwerks]

Tick is normal in a cold engine with solid tappets

[jlevie]

The increase in idle speed sounds most like a sticky ICV and/or intake leaks.

[Timp]

So the 'chugging' I was talking about earlier? Sorted that out... I opened up the hood, and there was the spark plug wire for the first cylinder just dangling there unplugged. Silly me. Plugged it in, and now it idles better than ever and feels great. I do believe there is a vacuum leak unrelated to the valve adjustment I did recently, so I'll take it in for a smoke test soon.

[sayed ali]

I'm a bit worried about this sound, but it's necessary in an m20 engine :)

My friend's car sounds like an m50 engine with totally no noise of valves!