using other types of valve shims??

[Huntervf]

In at work we have an older Suzuki GS 850 motorcycle that's being rebuilt, and I noticed that it uses valve shims nearly identical to those in the V6 SHO. Since our engines are essencially a big motorcycle engine I'm wondering if anyone has ever checked into alternative sources for valve shims. These Suzuki shims were just a tad to big in diameter to fit (I have a set of SHO heads at work & did a test fit) but perhaps Yamaha or other motorcycle manufacturers would have shims available? Anyone ever try this?

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"It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others....."

-Chris
Taurus SHO Representative, SVT/SHO Society:
http://svt.sho.tripod.com

89 SHO Lt. Titanium, modded & restored, currently protected by 24 inches of snow.
96 Contour SE V6 ATX Midnight Red
-SVT Exhaust
93 Dodge Spirit I4 ATX flat white winter beater, hardly worth mentioning

 

[sdpatt]

Careful there. The Suzuki's use a 29.5mm diameter shim versus the Yamaha motorcycle and SHO engine's 29.0mm. (Late: Sorry, I didn't catch the part about the shims being a little too big for the SHO heads). It is cheaper to buy the shims through FordPartsOnline ($3.00) or SHO NUT ($3.42) rather than the $19.95 for a pack of 5 through the motorcycle shops. I just picked up a few of the 2.700mm and greater shims through a Yamaha dealer since Ford no longer stocks them.


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Scott

1991, 254K miles, glass hood, police grill, SVO shifter, Catz fogs,
K&N, 73mm MAF, Superchip, PP Y-pipe, Borla cat-back, 190 lph pump
Eibach/Tokico/polyurethane, Alum SFB, SS front/rear strut braces,
16x7.5" Moda R1, 225/55ZR16 Bridgestone RE730, -1 deg camber x 4,
6 disc CD, Class II hitch, Silver award at SHOklahoma Car Show

[This message has been edited by sdpatt (edited 01-31-2002).]

 

[Huntervf]

No no no I'm not using those Suzuki shims, I just wondered if anyone had checked into other sources for valve shims since there has been talk of Ford discontinuing the shims.

You say Yamaha dealers do carry usable shims?

------------------
"It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others....."

-Chris
Taurus SHO Representative, SVT/SHO Society:
http://svt.sho.tripod.com

89 SHO Lt. Titanium, modded & restored, currently protected by 24 inches of snow.
96 Contour SE V6 ATX Midnight Red
-SVT Exhaust
93 Dodge Spirit I4 ATX flat white winter beater, hardly worth mentioning

 

[fredhurderjr]

Yes, they do.

Also, when the talk of discontinuing the shims came out, I took a few to the company I work for. They are interested, and are looking into manufacturing them now.

 

[sdpatt]

I thought the discontinued shims were only those over 2.675mm thick. Nick Chrimes at SHO NUT said there was no problem getting the shims 2.675mm and thinner.

Just for the record, when I was checking the catalog of shims at a Yamaha parts counter, I found that there were a large number of Yamaha's larger engines that used the same 29mm shim as the SHO. I don't think there is any worry of being able to get the shims even if Ford does abandon us.

Scott


[This message has been edited by sdpatt (edited 01-31-2002).]

 

[fredhurderjr]

True, but from what I understood the Yamaha dealers were charging something like $8 each for shims; My cost would be closer to $1 each if we do decide to tool it.