Thread: How to shim valves for sr20ve

I just got done adjusting my cams again. This time I also checked the shims. I got .013" intake and .022" exhaust. I think stock is .006-.008 intake and .014-.016 exhaust? How do I change the shims? I dont see how I can get them out without removing the cams first and I've been told that the cams stay in by many people but no one seems to be able to explain how exaclty I can do this.

take the cams out
measure each shim
Find correct shim
put cams back

Yeah that's what I thought. I was like wtf? I dont take the cams out? Where do we get the shims GregV? I heard that the 2001 harly v-rod shims fit is that true?

I also heard about the Harley shims fitting. What sizes do these come in? I guess if you needed to you could just file the top of the valve to get the right size if the shim were a lil too big.

I am going to be playing with a head soon, but this is one thing I am not 100% on. This seems like it may take some time to track these shims down.

If the shims are cheap you can buy a bunch of small ones that are all the same size, then measure and write down which ones you need to get all tolerances perfect.

v-rod shims go from 1.8mm up to 2.85mm

depending on where you go you can get them for $2.50 each. I believe KTM uses the same shim. You can walk in to any harley dealership and get them ordered.

$2.50 each. Thats a lil much eh? I guess ordering a bunch of small ones just to use for measurements is out.

I may be able to get them a bit cheaper. I will just have to check around I guess.

ask the kiwi's how much they pay for them from nissan.

you aren't going to find much cheaper per shim unless you are going direct to the manufacturer and even then you will have to buy in super bulk.

but if you can find them cheaper please share

I found lots of places online selling for around $1.80 or so. I will see if the stealership can hook me up. I have some harley connections.

Please note when you're checking valve clearances on a VE:

- Two valves share the same rocker. Because of this, you need to measure the clearance on each valve independent of the other. This means you have to take the shim out of one valve (per pair) to check the clearance of the other.

- Also remember to check clearances on both low lobe & high lobe, and preferably optimise for the high lobe. In my experience with franklin cams, by optimising for the high lobe I found the low lobe was at the looser end of spec.

Because of these two points, and the need to remove the cam every time you want to add/remove/change shims, checking valve clearances on a VE takes bloody ages!!

Oh and last time I priced up shims (about 6 months ago) they were NZ$22 each from Nissan