Valve questions and I messed something up
 

I adjusted my valves a week ago and my car sat in the driveway till this weekend. I started the car up and it ran quieter and smoother. There was less clackling going on at cold idle. I felt good. Then I took it for a drive and that is when that good feeling went away....

I got out on the road after a few laps around the complex and stepped on it. What a slug! It up shifted at 2100 rpm for each gear! My first thought was something vacuum related. My door locks still work and the car shuts off when I turn the key. all the linkages on top more smooth and are hooked up. What did I screw up?

Then I get home and find a HUGE puddle of oil under the car about a minute after I got home. It looks like I am just pouring out oil from the drivers side valve cover. I made sure all 4 bolts were tight, and they were. I put on a new gasket when I put the cover back on. Must have gotten something under there or maybe the gasket did not seat right.. gotta check it out later.

I adjusted the valves based on the writeup at dieselgiant. In there he said its better to error on the side of loose, and that is what I shot for. What happens if I made them too loose? every one of the intake valves were OK and did not need adjusting. the exhaust valves were all too tight and I loosened them up.

You've done something to the bowden cable, lowering the shift points. You probably reinstalled it incorrectly. It attaches to the accelerator linkage on top of the valve cover and controls the shift points. Probably nothing wrong with the valve clearances.

Check the ALDA line. It can get quite brittle and break. I had that happen to me. Also make sure the banjo bolt is clean, and also make sure the switch over valve is functioning properly.

Check fuel filters and the air filter.

Valves that are way too loose do not open fully. It is ok to err on loose, but not too loose.

Is it an actual cable, or the rod thing that goes down behind the block on the drivers side of the trans (looks like the rod that goes to the IP but in the back)

I did not think the shifting was related to the valve clearance. That was a separate question. If they are too loose, what bad can happen (if any)

the line is good and the banjo bolt is clean. I cleaned them when I took it all apart.

What is the switch over valve?

Fuel and air are good. Replaced them a week or 3 before this.

The switch over valve prevents over boosting by the turbo. I do not know it location on the w126. On the w123 it's at the 10 to 11 o'clock position when looking att he brake booster.

The bowden cable is an actual cable tha has a ball joint end at the top side of the engine. It does have a socket end to fit the linkage on top of the valve cover.

On some models it is a rod (W116 SD for example) but in your case I believe it is a cable that goes from the top of the valve cover down to the right side (passenger side) of the transmission.

This cable? Sorry about the shadow!

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...469800x600.jpg

Yes, that cable.

Also that bracket is real easy to bend. I found outthe hard way, when the tranny shifted way too early. I bent it back into position, and problem solved.

Now that I think about it, I do remember bending that bracket a little when I was pulling the cable off. I thought I bent it back, but guess not far enough. Do you know if the cable needs to be tighter of looser?

the tighter you make the cable, the later your car will shift.

Thank you to all that posted. I found the issue. rrgrassi was right. When I took the cable off I bent the bracket. I pushed it back but not far enough. the little finger (left arrow) was catching the bracket (where the right arrow is) but there is a little play in the bracket and the finger slipped off the bracket. In the picture below I am lifting up on the bracket with a screwdriver to show the finger and bracket. I bent the bracket down a little more and now it hangs on as it should

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...ger800x600.jpg

the 82 I have has served me well, I haven't driven it in nearly a year though... I guess it's time to go find that no start issue with it and get it back on the road...
I just have sooo many projects...

I know what you mean! My girl keeps yelling at me because I keep adding projects to my todo list! I really like this car and hope it all comes together soon.