I've read many forums on lashing valves on here and almost all of them say to do it hot. I don't necessarily mind doing that, but many old hat mechanics seem to say you can set the lash cold.
Is there any reason this wouldn't work? It seems like the suggestions I've heard for flat tappet cam engines is to:
Use a breaker bar with the correct socket
Spin push rod by hand
Tighten (or loosen) all rockers until there's just a bit of tension against the rod
This should get you to zero lash
Rotate engine 90 degrees, repeat on loose valves
Repeat until nothing is loose
Go to all bolts and do a 3/4 turn tight - this should be the preload
Since this puts the engine at zero lash, I assume you could go back and adjust with a feeler? Or just use a feeler right from the start?
It seems silly to do it hot/running and fight with jumping rockers and oil everywhere when the expansion of the parts should be graphable / known... wouldn't that leave you with a cold feeler thickness and a hot feeler thickness?
(okay maybe I do mind doing the lash while hot, a bit)