Rental Shim Kits

[STRider]

My 95 MTX developed a miss/stutter and there are no codes (I checked and everything passed). I have run a cylinder balance test several times and sometimes it passes, sometimes it points to cylinder #4 not passing (maybe half of the time). I checked the #4 plug and wire and did not see anything unusual. The plugs and wires (both Motorcraft) were changed about 20K miles ago and there was no oil in the plug wells. Since there are no codes, I’m thinking it has to be ignition related. So I bought some new Motorcraft plugs and was going to change them. I pulled the back three plug wires and there is a lot of oil in the plug wells. So I ordered the Fel-pro valve cover/plug well gaskets.
While waiting for the gaskets, I thought I should probably go ahead and check the valve shims and change them if necessary even though I still have 10K miles before my actual 60K. Since Josh is at the convention, I was going to call OTC to get the tools and then figure out what shims I would need and order them from FPN. OTC is out of stock on the tools until August 12th. Now I am thinking of renting a kit from someone, but I’m not sure whom I should use.
I remember reading something a while ago that ShoShop and SP Motorsports included tools they made that were copied from OTC and are not as good as quality. So I’m hesitant to order their kits. The only other company I can find current info on a kit is CincySho, but I don’t know anything about their kit. Now I’m thinking I should just put everything back together, then do the normal 60K when it is due in 10K miles.
Does anyone know who rents a shim kit I can order that contains new shims and quality tools? Is there anyone in the Kansas City area that has the tools and will let me rent/borrow them? Or does everyone think I should just replace the gasket and wait another 10K miles? I do have something else I can drive while I work on the SHO, but I don’t want it to be down for three or four weeks waiting for the tools/kit.

 

[F-22 Raptor SHO]

Cincy ShO rental kits are great....I've used them a couple times. For 60 bucks you get a great mix of shims to meet your needs, so no worries. The 60 doesnt inlcude the two tools though.

To meet your interim problem: take your intake off and the valve covers, check your shim tolerances and visually inspect the shims for any adverse wear (you can do this without taking the shim out. If condition is good and tolerances are in spec for intake and exhaust, then you dont need to worry about doing the lash (i have 130k on my 90 that I just got, took it all apart to look inside and all were right in the middle of the range, which is ok for operation, but nothing like getting a few thousands more lift on those intake valves to increase hp).

The leaking plug wells can be cured by taking the valve cover off and running a bead of RTV over the well seal. I had leaks and cured em this way (i was saving my plug well seals for my powder coated valve covers as once you pry them off, they are close to junk).

Note: check the condition of that cam chain tensioner while you are in there as they tend to get grooved over time.