sr20 head rebuild

[sr20time]

I have a built head but i am only missing cams, i have them on route home but i was wondering about the rocker arm shims. The guy sent me the package but one shim is missing, Am i able to take a shim from the current stock head and use it in this built head?

if im not clear enough i can try to explain more just let me know thanks.

[Leetfade]

Are you using the HLAs or solid lifters?

[sr20time]

i believe its just the hla's. i dont thing the lifters were touched.

[Leetfade]

Then your stocks should be fine. You should have one that is flat and one that has a groove that the rocker arm sits in for each arm.

The best thing to do would be to measure it out. Also, compare the bag of shims he sent you to the stock shims. The numbers on them will tell you the thickness so just compare that to your stock ones.

To my understanding though (probably want to get some clarification on this), until you go to a solid lifter you'd stick with the stock shim set-up. I'm just curious if you change springs if that COULD change (assuming it could).

[VNG704]

You can use old shims as long as it's measured with it's rocker guide to even out....leveling the rocker arm. iirc, .002 +/- is okay. search it.

[sr20time]

Its the one that has the grove in it thats missing from the baggie that he sent. So i guess ill just steal one from my current head as long as its the same size from what you guys are saying. I have bc springs and retainers (in the built head) i dunno if that makes a difference.

[sr20time]

Hey im putting in new cams, i was wondering if i need to change out the old rocker's or will my stock ones be fine. anything that i should be looking for?

[VNG704]

You can use your old rockers, I mean that people use old ones all the time. But it is also said that because that surface wears, depending on your mileage, you may want to get new ones. Personally, if it's in my budget, I'd just get new ones.

[Leetfade]

Take a look at the strike plates on the rocker arms. You CAN use the old ones but you will, most likely, get a more pronounced noise if there is any damage on those strike plates. I spent months tracking all this down because the noise sounded like a sticking lifter..

You can get rocker arms at ~$20 each brand new. It's worth it to freshen up the head.