flip the shims

[rktmn]

I miked the valve shims on my engine, and none of them are outside of the specs. A couple of them are on the far end, and two or three have enough wear that can be felt by running a fingernail over it.

Can I just turn these shims around and reuse them? Most of the intake gap at .007" and a couple at .008". The exhaust are anywhere from .009" to .014".

I am thinking of just replacing the ones at the largest gaps to tighten them, but I have read on the forum that they can be flipped around.

Is this a feasable solution?

I am trying to scrounge enought money to buy a Quaife.

 

[Bizzy]

They can be flipped and reused, although I wouldn't use any that have scratches on them. It's better to just replace them all if you have new ones available.

 

[Sho-N-Go]

Do people do it? Yes. Would I? No not yet there are new ones still availible use them. Just my opinion

 

[shojuan]

Eventually somebody is going to make fun of me for using this phrase, but as far as I'm concerned it's a false economy to open up the valve covers, measure the clearances, and reuse old shims. In the grand scheme of things, it's not *that* expensive to just buckle down and get new shims for your SHO. Flipping shims? What a waste of good labor. They're a cheap wear item. A very important, cheap wear item. Just replace 'em with new.

Rick

 

[RStalveyARFF]

Shims are cheap to replace, since you already know which sizes you need. Cams are not cheap. SO my opinion is replace with new shims.

 

[sdpatt]

I want to make sure you are adjusting the proper measurement. When you say, "miked the valve shims," did you measure the thickness of the valve shim with a micrometer (hence the name "mic")? The valve gap is the measurement that is being measured and adjusted by the valve gapping procedure. This process doesn't care how close the shim is to its labeled thickness. It only cares how large the gap is between the cam lobe's heel and the shim.

The intake gaps should be set at a nominal .20mm (.008") and within an allowed range of .15mm (.006") to .25mm (.010"). The exhaust gaps should be set at a nominal .30mm (.012") and within an allowed range of .25mm (.010") to .35mm (.014"). Check your email.

It is okay to use the flip side of the shim as long as there aren't any scratches or the dark oil spot in the center. You can buff off the oil spot with a cloth. You should always present a fresh, unused shim face to the cam lobe during this process.

 

[Sho-N-Go]

If everyone starts flipping now. Then Ford will just discontinue the shims quicker due to no sales. I say replace the shims that way Ford sees people still buying them. Yes eventually we will have to flip shims. But as of now we dont most shims are still availible lets use them.

 

[shojuan]

toolboy79:
If everyone starts flipping now. Then Ford will just discontinue the shims quicker due to no sales. I say replace the shims that way Ford sees people still buying them. Yes eventually we will have to flip shims. But as of now we dont most shims are still availible lets use them.

Good point. Nobody buys them, Ford will stop making them. It's a shame they've discontinued as many parts as they have just when people are starting to need them, likely because the original parts are lasting a bit longer than Ford anticipated.

Rick