valve shim question...

[SHOblime]

if I pull my valve covers to replace the gaskets and spark plug well seals, is it acceptable to check the clearance of the shims and also for damage, and leave them in if they are undamaged and properly clearanced? I don't know if the 60k has been done on this engine (it has 137k) and I plan on replacing the valve cover gaskets, spark plug well seals, injector seals and also the 02 sensors. If I can put off the 60k for about a year (for me that's around 10k-12k miles) I'd be extremely happy, because I am going to rebuild the entire engine to factory specs for a class I'm taking. If I can hold off on the valve adjustment until then, when I will have to do it anyway, that would be great. So basically, if I check the valve shims out (and maybe again in 6 months?) and they are in spec, can I assume it is safe to drive the car?

 

[rangerj]

If the valve shims are within specification, are NOT pitted, scratched, or otherwise damaged, then why would you change them? If they check out then it is OK to continue to drive the car. If they are not in spec, and/or damaged, then it would be best to change them.

If the shims are damaged (scratched or pitted) then they will wear the cam lobes. rangerj

 

[SHOblime]

If the valve shims are within specification, are NOT pitted, scratched, or otherwise damaged, then why would you change them? If they check out then it is OK to continue to drive the car. If they are not in spec, and/or damaged, then it would be best to change them.

If the shims are damaged (scratched or pitted) then they will wear the cam lobes. rangerj

Good point, if they are within spec and not damaged I probably wouldn't need to replace them. What I really wanted to ask, is if the good condition of the shims indicated a 60k had been done at some point and I can wait around 6 months and check again assuming I'm going to rebuild the engine at some point in the near future.

 

[HopefulSHO]

What I did with my ATX, since I didn't need any new shims (all were w/in spec), I just flipped them over. Make sure you remove the black "bump" in the middle, and you'll have a fresh clean surface for your cams to rub on. Remember it's the shim that's made to wear - help it do it's job Then again if you're rebuilding in six months it may not be worth your time.