Valve Shim Thicknesses / availability

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slant six

slant six

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I am refreshing a head for a project here, and sorting out spring pressures and using valve spring shims to make the installed heights and seat pressures equal.

I am Looking for some 0.010" and 0.005" Shims - are there such things? Or should I be just satisfied with my installed heights being rounded up to 0.015"?

I am somewhat new to the intricacies of head building, instead of just cleaning things up and slapping parts together, or sending everything to the engine builder.

Thanks for any insights sages!
 
Last edited:
slant six said:
I am refreshing a head for a project here, and sorting out spring pressures and using valve spring shims to make the installed heights and seat pressures equal.

I am Looking for some 0.010" and 0.005" Shims - are the such things? Or should I be just satisfied with my installed heights being rounded up to 0.015"?

I am somewhat new to the intricacies of head building, instead of just cleaning things up and slapping parts together, or sending everything to the engine builder.

Thanks for any insights sages!
Click to expand...
Well, I don't know what the ID and OD is you need, BUT when I cannot find some the exact thickness I need, I go to the next thickest size that I can find. You don't want to go the next thinnest, because you'll lose some spring pressure. I'd rather have "a little" too much. Remember, you're going to lose a little in a short period of time anyway.
 
Screenshot_20250118_110918_Chrome.jpg

Make them. You can also buy shim stock on Amazon. Punch the small hole first.
 

Newbomb Turk said:
I would never use a shim under .015 thick. The materiel is too thin and it will get ate up.

If you are within .020 on installed height you are golden.
Click to expand...
Thank you. Then that is why there is a proliferation of .015" and thicker available.
I can certinally get to within .020" installed height with what I have on hand and on order.

I suppose i was over thinking it.
As I said, I am new to setting up the head.

Thanks!
 
.015” height difference on a spring with a rate of 350lbs/in is a change of 5.2lbs of force.
Obviously a higher rate spring will show a greater difference, but for most normal stuff getting the IH within .010” of the target is “close enough”.

Often times there’s a wider variation in the springs themselves than what you’d get with a .010” height difference.
 
PRH said:
.015” height difference on a spring with a rate of 350lbs/in is a change of 5.2lbs of force.
Obviously a higher rate spring will show a greater difference, but for most normal stuff getting the IH within .010” of the target is “close enough”.

Often times there’s a wider variation in the springs themselves than what you’d get with a .010” height difference.
Click to expand...
TRUTH!

Thanks,
Rod
 
Agree with Turk, post #5, unless the shim was sandwiched under a thicker shim.
 
slant six said:
I am refreshing a head for a project here, and sorting out spring pressures and using valve spring shims to make the installed heights and seat pressures equal.

I am Looking for some 0.010" and 0.005" Shims - are there such things? Or should I be just satisfied with my installed heights being rounded up to 0.015"?

I am somewhat new to the intricacies of head building, instead of just cleaning things up and slapping parts together, or sending everything to the engine builder.

Thanks for any insights sages!
Click to expand...
Make sure you're setting them up by pressure and not by height. Unless they're new springs.. always check.

Use the .015's
What cam ? 2.08 or 2.14 valves?
I'll tell you where they should be at.
 
MOPAROFFICIAL said:
What cam ? 2.08 or 2.14 valves?
I'll tell you where they should be at.
Click to expand...

Hello, Thank you for your help.
None of those sizes apply for the slant 6 unfortunately.

Valves are Chevy Valves with 1.8" /1.5' Head diameters.

New PAC Springs Measured at closed / seat pressure of 120# at 1.855" installed height.
 
slant six said:
Hello, Thank you for your help.
None of those sizes apply for the slant 6 unfortunately.

Valves are Chevy Valves with 1.8" /1.5' Head diameters.

New PAC Springs Measured at closed / seat pressure of 120# at 1.855" installed height.
Click to expand...
I mistook this for the big block forum lol
 
I was able to find any buy a bunch of 0.015" and 0.020" last week and the arrived this week. The combination of these shims will get me close to my targets as needed.

Thanks folks!
 
RustyRatRod said:
Sounds like Chevy guys.
Click to expand...
Yeah, there's a dude that runs around with a 2000 suburban and boy that thing gets beat.
The Honda boys, the stupidru boys, just any car they buy, they head to O'Reilly's to buy a stick on hood scoop and its way faster lol
 
MOPARMAGA said:
Yeah, there's a dude that runs around with a 2000 suburban and boy that thing gets beat.
The Honda boys, the stupidru boys, just any car they buy, they head to O'Reilly's to buy a stick on hood scoop and its way faster lol
Click to expand...
I tell you what. Some of them Stupidrus you gotta be careful with. Some of those things are stupid fast. I have a friend who had one. WRX
 
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