Rocker Side Play Adjustment Shims

[bugguy1967]

I was setting up rocker side play the other day using an EMPI shaft kit. I wish I would have had more shim thicknesses, so I looked into a hardware catalogue and found some shims that have the same dimensions. Are .005s too thin to use safely on rocker assemblies, or shoud I go no smaller than .010? I can get a pack of 25 of whatever size for eight dollars.

Are there better shim selections from another company? EMPIs came with .017, .032, and .059. Those measurements were taken after I sanded down the stamped edges.

[Danwvw]

Aircoolednet and cb-performance carry them but I think most kit's just have 3 sizes in them. .005" would be nice so they could be dialed in better. I think they would work.
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1960 Beetle And 1679cc DP W-100 & Dual Zeniths!

[56vwoval]

What catalog were you looking at?
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Remember guys and girls, you can be right or you can be happy with your significant other! You decide which is right at that time!

[Danwvw]

I had to sand one of the thicker shims down a bit to get the fit I wanted on my rockers.
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1960 Beetle And 1679cc DP W-100 & Dual Zeniths!

[earthquake]

Mcmaster Carr has 18mm shims down to .1mm thick which is about .003"...

http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-shims/=tg9lra
click on the metric shims and then go to 18mm size.
If I was going use them to shim a set of rockers I would make sure to put the thins one between the thicker ones, and use the "Spring Steel" shims.

Casey
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74 CLASS 11 LOOK-A-LIKE
69 DUNE BUGGY
79 INTERNATIONAL SCOUT II
05 SCION XB SERIES RELEASE 2[#437]
95 Chevy C3500 dually
98 Ford E150
Link to Kelly J. Nolte 3/20/53 - 11/6/08
https://time-zonelabs.blogspot.com/p/about-kelly.html
DEATH TO CHINGERS!
[From a military recruitment poster in the novel "The Stainless Steel Rat" By Harry Harrison]

[modok]

A thin shim should work fine sandwiched between the others shims. Would nut use one all alone tho.

[andy198712]

think how thin the endplay shims are... i wouldn't be worried if it had good oil supply?
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[JasonBaker]

I think oil pressure is a given. Having the proper shims just makes for a quieter drive train.

[yamaducci]

[damicotile]

I have SCAT rockers and when I opened the package the sides of the rockers were not machined smooth and tore up the thin shims.
I ended up machining the sides, used thicker shims and it has not beed a problem since.
I used valve spring shims.
Some of the side play was at .060".
Using those .010" shims will be destroyed if not sandwiched between 2 thicker shims.
Just make sure the sides of the rockers are smooth.
You can smooth them by sanding them on a flat surface with emery cloth and oil in a circular motion.
_________________
'73 SB
82x94
W-120 w/ CB light weight lifters
Silicon bronze sleeves
Scat 1.25:1
CB H-Beams
Straight cuts
42x37 Steve Tims
44 IDF's
9.2:1
A-1 Sidewinder coated

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[damicotile]

Deleted duplicate post.
_________________
'73 SB
82x94
W-120 w/ CB light weight lifters
Silicon bronze sleeves
Scat 1.25:1
CB H-Beams
Straight cuts
42x37 Steve Tims
44 IDF's
9.2:1
A-1 Sidewinder coated

__________________________________

[clonebug]

I used some of the stock shims which were .040+/-.
That combined with the packaged shims which were .032,.020 and .010 got me a little closer to what I wanted.
I measures all the shims, spacers and rockers to make the best fit possible.
So far my valve train is quieter than with the stock parts.
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[mark tucker]

I always reserface the rockers&blocks and add a slight chamfer to the split on the blocks so it dosent dig into the shims.I like thick shims,but ...on occassion used thin shims between the thicker ones. I try for around .008" +-.002"side clearance. but remember the pushrods are at an angle pushing toward the rear of the car so the rear side of the rocker is the side that takes the thrust load.I try to use atleast 2 shims on the rear/thrust side of the rockers perferalby thick hard shims. and this final ajustment shims on the non thrust side. one more item...valve spring shims are not rocker shims,there made to stop roatation!!!! they are non slip shims!!!(the ones that have serations or stampings on the faces) a hardened shim is spring steel, and when bent will spring back,not stay bent.. I also remachine the rocker blocks/shaft end caps so I can use the shim pack I need for the thrust side.

[damicotile]

[mark tucker]

[damicotile]

They aren't marketed as rocker shims but do work as rockers shims if treated right. This is why there are so many mods one has to put into place to make this aftermarket crap to work.
I rarely have a part that doesn't need to be modified to some degree to make it work or last.
To this day I have had no problems with the shims binding or being destroyed.
You just have to use them on the side with the least load.

They are checked each time the valves are adjusted by me removing them and checking for wear.
So far they work fine.
_________________
'73 SB
82x94
W-120 w/ CB light weight lifters
Silicon bronze sleeves
Scat 1.25:1
CB H-Beams
Straight cuts
42x37 Steve Tims
44 IDF's
9.2:1
A-1 Sidewinder coated

__________________________________

[jason]

I bought some rocker shaft shims from bugpack if I remember correctly and they are indeed valve spring shims. So they are marketing them as such. Needless to say they went back.

[Dr OnHolliday]

I have a HF diamond grit block with 4 different grits. When I used the very used 1.25:1 VW rockers I hand ground them flat on the sides - one side had a 1/16" protrusion that was the original unworn surface running against the stands....

I also handground regular steel washers to get the correct sideplay....
_________________
1965 Type 1 sunroof Baja / about 70k miles on self-rebuilt '74 1600 and counting / SP heads and aftermarket valve keepers / non-doghouse shroud with external cooler and filter / 1.5 qt extended sump / Weber 32/36 DFAV progressive carb / 009 dist with Pertronix / 1.25 ratio rockers and ball adjusters / 1.5" stainless steel J-pipes and carbon steel baja exhaust

[mark tucker]

just remember there not hard like a good rocker thrust shim is. although you can heetreet them a bit, be sure to go over them with 6000-8000 wet before usage.I have not used any of them.but Ive seen plenty and laughed at the bp package with them in it then threw it in the trash. scat and empi have good shims(or did last time I ordered them). a .015 HP vsi shim is just fine to use there flay with no serations. i dont recall the numbers for the 3 diferent od&id sizes.

[scotth17]

I ordered some of these spring steel shims in .1 and .2 mm from McMaster Carr. They seem to be a good material (as in springy), the surface finish is very good and they are FLAT, no apparent punch operation. I shimmed my rockers to a loose zero with the thinner shims between the old thick shims I had in there. I must say it is so much quieter now and my old adjustment was no more than .005-.006 clearance. The Scat 1.25 rockers have a few thousandths clearance on the shaft and any extra side clearance really lets them move about. I have the Hoover mods and the Scat swivel feet rocker adjusters so I think oil flow will be fine. I think they will be just fine....