Vale shims, Mess with or NO mess with?

Got most of the deal back together now and checked the lash last night.

#1 EX at 8 thou, #3 EX at 1.5 thou and #4 IN at 3 thou. The rest at 5 thou tight to loose.

Obviously Gotta deal with #1 EX (up 2 shim sizes)& #3 EX (down 1 shim size) but the question is, do I mess with the 5 thou's and bring them all down to 3 thou (one shim size)?

Any thoughts? Thanks.

Why not? You've done everything else to topend. Unless costs are starting to be an issue. Get her set up tip top from top to bottom.

Hey RSK, No cost isn't the issue, i've even got the right shims (I think). My thinking was that the lash will likely close down marginally over time as the the engine breaks back in so, should I let those 5 thou gaps close down from 5 to 4 and end up in spec OR, should I shim it down to 3 thou now and chance it closing down from there to 2 or possibly less over time?

Much as I enjoy ripping this thing apart, it might be nice to just enjor riding it for a couple of seasons.

If you have the valve shim tools it isn't any big deal to change them. If you wanted an opinion I would agree with your thinking of leaving the 5's alone and fix the other two, run it a bit, check them again in a few weeks. Since your motor is fresh I think your valve clearances might change a little.

Happy places!

I don't like running any clearances under 3 thou on these motors - it seems they close up very quickly the smaller the gap.

When I shim a head after it's been apart (and the valves lapped) I will set clearances around 5-6 thou as they will close down a couple of thou.

Jeff, I think that's where I was coming from. Take a look at the overnight orders first thing in the morning.