Where to get skinny shims?

[jayro]

Hi all. I was wondering if anyone had ideas on where to get thin valve shims? I am building a cam Ed 3.2 for my 94 mtx. I just about have it all together, but with the cams all my valves need shims between 1900 and 2250. I though about contacting a yamaha dealer. Does anybody know of one in the fort Wayne area that I could contact? Thanks

 

[Phoenix]

Hi all. I was wondering if anyone had ideas on where to get thin valve shims? I am building a cam Ed 3.2 for my 94 mtx. I just about have it all together, but with the cams all my valves need shims between 1900 and 2250. I though about contacting a yamaha dealer. Does anybody know of one in the fort Wayne area that I could contact? Thanks

You might have to get thiner lash caps in order to use normal shims. Im not even sure the yamaha ones go that thin.

 

[Ishodu]

Worst case you could always take them to a shop that has a surface grinder and thin them down for you. Of course you could only use one side of the shim at that point.

 

[LJRuddy]

Or you could shave off a bit of the valve stem so you can use a taller shim that is more available.

 

[Phoenix]

Worst case you could always take them to a shop that has a surface grinder and thin them down for you. Of course you could only use one side of the shim at that point.

I tried that once in a race/engine shop , he had a tool to hold it down on its milling/grinding machine but it couldnt stay in place , total fail.

Did you manage to do it?

 

[Ishodu]

I am sure he didn't have the right tool, most places that have surface grinders use a very strong magnet for holding flat parts in place I have not done it myself but I could take one in to work some day and give it a try.

 

[jayro]

Thanks for the ideas. I emailed sho source to ask an will also be talking to our local yamaha shop that I traded shims with in the past. I find it kinda weird cause the machine shop that did my head work set the stem tips back to spec height and the lash caps are the ones from shonut that came with the cams. Maybe shonut has thinner caps.

 

[jayro]

You might have to get thiner lash caps in order to use normal shims. Im not even sure the yamaha ones go that thin.

I emailed shonut to see if he had any available. If he doesn't, do you know where I could get some?

 

[Phoenix]

I emailed shonut to see if he had any available. If he doesn't, do you know where I could get some?

I believe Josh is the only supplier of those , He can have them made but i think its quite pricey , like 40 bucks a piece if i remember correctly. But trade-ins with in-stock ones is alot cheaper , you should contact him.

Or maybe shosource...

Usually when you buy cams it comes with the caps , so you need to find someone that has them uninstalled , and willing to trade....Thats a big task.

 

[KyngofPop]

Looked at the title and mistakingly read "skinny jeans" and almost vomitted lol. Commence.

 

[jon93]

http://www.crc2onlinecatalog.com/valve_shims.htm

 

[jayro]

http://www.crc2onlinecatalog.com/valve_shims.htm

Thanks. Glad to see I can at least get down to 2000. I'm thinking since my valve stem height was set the same on all of them I should need about the same shim for all of them.

 

[somedude_001]

Thanks. Glad to see I can at least get down to 2000. I'm thinking since my valve stem height was set the same on all of them I should need about the same shim for all of them.

When I put cams in my turbo car the shim size was moving around quite a bit from valve to valve.

 

[AREA 91]

When I installed my +40's, I needed to have custom lash caps made. The lash caps that came with the cams were .055. I hade some .050 lash caps made.

 

[jayro]

When I installed my +40's, I needed to have custom lash caps made. The lash caps that came with the cams were .055. I hade some .050 lash caps made.

Where did u got to have them made? My tri-flows were installed in these heads on my 3.0 before this swap. The machine shop I used redid the guides and the seats. They then said they set the valve stem heights back to within factory specs. How were u able to tell what thickness of lash caps u needed? Install them without the lash caps and then see what the clearance is with a shim installed?

 

[jayro]

When I put cams in my turbo car the shim size was moving around quite a bit from valve to valve.

Yeah, prior to the machine work mine covered a wide range. I was thinking that they set them all the same when they did the guides and 3 angle jod. Could just be wishful thinking. I did some figuring and if ( and that's a big if) my calculations are correct I should be able to get things in spec as long as I can get shims in the 2100 range. So much for having the car running this weekend......it has become a lesson in patience.

 

[jon93]

You have to think of lash caps as shim helpers. I had to pull a lash cap and run a large shim on one lobe.

Every lobe has to measured individually and I suggest measuring two or three times and checking your math two or three times(for what thickness shim you need).

After the math is done you will know your specs and you can order exactly what your motor needs. It's a bunch of busy work, no hard math calculations, just time.. and that time is well spent because when your shims arrive you just throw them in and everything is in spec. Aftermarket cams are a headache but it's just part of building these motors up. Some are easier than others.

 

[jayro]

You have to think of lash caps as shim helpers. I had to pull a lash cap and run a large shim on one lobe.

Every lobe has to measured individually and I suggest measuring two or three times and checking your math two or three times(for what thickness shim you need).

After the math is done you will know what your specs and you can order exactly what your motor needs. It's a bunch of busy work, no hard math calculations, just time.. and that time is well spent because when your shims arrive you just throw them in and everything is in spec. Aftermarket cams are a headache but it's just part of building these motors up. Some are easier than others.

Yeah. Problem is with my thinnest shim I have 0 clearance on my cams. .0015 will just about fit, but not quite. I guess I could start with no lash cap and a shim I have. Then figure in the .055 for the cap. If I have to I will do that. I am going to try a local yamaha place that I traded shims with before and see if I can get a range of shims that are thinner. Then use them to determine my order. I guess I could put the engine in the car and then do the valve lash....it's just so much easier with it on a stand.

 

[jon93]

Yeah. Problem is with my thinnest shim I have 0 clearance on my cams. .0015 will just about fit, but not quite. I guess I could start with no lash cap and a shim I have. Then figure in the .055 for the cap. If I have to I will do that. I am going to try a local yamaha place that I traded shims with before and see if I can get a range of shims that are thinner. Then use them to determine my order. I guess I could put the engine in the car and then do the valve lash....it's just so much easier with it on a stand.

Your options are:
1. run a large shim and no lash cap.
2. get the lash cap turned down to a spec where you can run an available shim.

I had a similar measurement, I think if you pull the lash cap you will be able to find a shim on the website that will bring it into spec. Having the lash caps turned down is the more expensive option and should be your second option in your plan of attack.

 

[SinisterSHO]

Couldn't you jsut remove the lash caps? I know on my 93 with stage 1 cams, only half the valves had lash caps.