Wanting to get some input from smart folks.
Rebuilding a 5vz (pulled out of a wreck). My bad for not checking valve lash before tear down.
Machinist took .002 from each head (so it's stamped anyway).
Long story short on first assembly, my odd side intakes were all < .005 (save #1-2 which was .008). My thinnest guage is .005.
Much grief later with different mic's and finally decided mine was accurate. Had taken a trip to TX (have an A&P friend with a shop), and my mic agreed with his.
Ordered FOUR tho's thinner for 4 of those intakes. 4 of 'em that are four thousand thinner.
Put back together, and now I've STILL got one that's .005, and still 4 that are .006 (the min).

Q: should I just bite the bullet, and get thinner to get that .006 up, since I have to get that .005 wider? Tight is not good for valves, correct?

Edit: 2nd Q: What happens to valve clearance over time? Do they get looser? I want avoid adjustment for a while, or risk unforeseen damage.

Thanks in advance.

 

This post had lots of readers, so I will update what I did if it helps anyone.

I went back to Macgeorge (?) and ordered more shims (like 7 or 8 bux each). IIRC I got several quite thin. I have it written somewhere if anyone really wants to know.

 

To your question about what happens to valve clearance on our DOHC engines - I’ve always thought the valves get progressively tighter.

My engine has nearly 465,000 miles on it and I’ve never touched the valves. It idles like it did when I bought it new and runs great. It’s probably down on power but that’s ok.



Andreas