Valve shim adventure

[garion]

Azruss braved the cross country drive (we live on completely opposite ends of Phoenix), and came to my house this morning to help with my shims. After swapping stories, and having my neighbors come over to check out his car and to talk our ears off (one of the wives came over to drag the husband back home..), we finally got it done.. Unfortunately, none of the shims he already had would fit, so I'll be hitting up AR shortly.. Here's what I've been running with.. I've been a bit tight!

(measurements in inches)

#1 Intake: 0.013 - 0.153 shim
#1 Exhaust: 0.011+ - 0.162 shim

#2 Intake: 0.012 - 0.161 shim
#2 Exhaust: 0.012 - 0.134 shim

#3 Intake: 0.012 - 0.158 shim
#3 Exhaust: 0.012 - 0.141+ shim (this was measured funny. like it was worn on one side)

#4 Intake: 0.013 - 0.158 shim
#4 Exhaust: 0.015 - 0.145 shim

My goal: 0.018 Intake and 0.020 Exhaust (actually have a factory sticker in my car with those!)

Here's my buy list:

#1 Intake: Ideal: 0.148in, 3.7592mm, -- 3.75 shim
#1 Exhaust: Ideal: 0.153in, 3.8862mm -- 3.85 and 3.90 shim

#2 Intake: Ideal: 0.155in, 3.937mm -- 3.90 and 3.95 shim
#2 Exhaust: Ideal: 0.126in, 3.2004mm -- 3.20 shim

#3 Intake: Ideal: 0.152in, 3.8608mm -- 3.80 and 3.85 shim
#3 Exhaust: Ideal: 0.133, 3.3782mm -- 3.35 and 3.40 shim

#4 Intake: Ideal: 0.153in, 3.8862mm -- 3.85 and 3.90 shim
#4 Exhaust: Ideal: 0.140, 3.5560mm -- 3.55 shim

The ones that I'm really close on, I'll just buy one.. The others, I'll buy either side on..

I'll wait a day or so to place my order, give people time to check my math..

The fun part is that this probably isn't my tapping noise that I get.. But one problem at a time

[garion]

Got my new shims today, and got them all in, except for the #4 Exhaust.. Just couldnt do it with the tool from AR.. So I'll have to do that at a later date... Good news is that the car started right up (faster than it used to), and sounds meaner.. I didnt take it out yet, cause the wife was yelling dinner, and the fact that its been pouring here (in Phoenix? What the?)..

[So Cal Mark]

opening up the gaps will in effect give you a milder cam profile

[RRoller123]

Do a little grinding and it will fit on the #4 Exhaust. Some folks have mentioned installing the hold down tool backwards but I haven't tried that.