valve shim issue

[a100pureplayaz]

s13 sr20det was doing a head gasket went to clean bottom of the head flipped it upside down shims on the intake side all fell out lost one wondering how i can find out which shim i lost and order a new one if this is possible?

[aNskY]

those are rocker arm guides, starting from the front on the intake side put the flat one first, then the notched, flat, notches, etc

exhaust side put notches, flat, notches, flat etc

make sure you bleed your lifters now that theyve been upside down

[a100pureplayaz]

the only problem is there diffrent sizes and you have to measure them too see which belongs with which spring

[HalveBlue]

If you want to do it right get the FSM and find out how to check the shim height.

Basically Nissan uses a special tool that costs several hundred dollars. Someone made a similar tool from scratch that also costs several hundred dollars. Then there's the Harbor Freight option which requires you to buy several different items to build another version of this tool, but at a fraction of the cost (~maybe $50)

[xplicit240]

or just order them from nissan which should come pre labeled?

[aNskY]

the only problem is there diffrent sizes and you have to measure them too see which belongs with which spring

just going through the fsm real quick, there are supposed to be markings on them to indicate thickness. mine are ALL unmarked. what gives?

[s13drob]

your goin 2 have 2 use a FEELER GAUGE. no expensive machinery BS.
costs like 20$ and u can find out the shim height

[a100pureplayaz]

i have a feeler gauge but it is manetic too hookup and its not sticking to the block and since i have to hold it down im very worried if i move very little that could throw the measurment off and how do i know which shim goes were?

[aNskY]

as long as the shim is the same height as the rocker arm guide on each cyl, the hla should take care of the rest, correct?

[IIIXziuR]

This is a DIY tool that measures the clearance:
http://forums2.freshalloy.com/showthread.php?t=175360

You basically take a HLA, break it open shove a piece of steel into it, then attatch a micrometer on the end of the steel bar. you then drop the hla into the hole in the head while the head is on the engine or a bench and flip the pointer for the micrometer onto the valve guide, measure the thickness, then TEAR and flip over to your shim. The shim should be within about .04 of a mm.

(as told to me by Señor Steve Shadows)