Ok, I'm going to adjust my valves with the help of my brother for the first time this coming weekend. I'm assuming I need to order a valve cover gasket. I have the double ended tappet depresser, filler gauge and micrometer. We have a large selection of shims. Am I forgetting anything?
How about best source for a quality valve cover gasket?
Definitely get a new VC gasket. Any of the normal routes, like euro635gas, or Blunt will get you a good gasket. Since the M5 is low production there aren't a bunch of aftermarket gaskets available anyhow.
Have you got a micrometer? If so, sounds like you have everything you need.
Hey Chris.., while you were at my house you should have grabbed my master shim kit Let me know if you need any help. What about the crank nut socket and long ratchet ? Pick to get the shims out ? Angled feeler gauge ?
The shims will pop loose with a directed shot of compressed air into the gap between them and the bucket edge. Hold a rag over it to prevent oil blast.
L_N_Love wrote:The shims will pop loose with a directed shot of compressed air into the gap between them and the bucket edge. Hold a rag over it to prevent oil blast.
I prefer a pick to pull the shims. I have never had luck with the air blast.
mooseheadm5 wrote:
I prefer a pick to pull the shims. I have never had luck with the air blast.
I mostly went with a pick as well, augmented by a magnet-on-a-stick. There were two in particular that I vividly remember that I ended up using air repeatedly to try to thin the oil seal that was holding them. For those 2 it was not the blast of air, but the epic blast of foul-mouthed curse words that finally broke them loose. I didn't know I had it in me.
Well, we did it today. Wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it was gonna be. Of course that's probably cause they were all perfect except for one, so we only changed that one. Perfect .012 all the way around. And no way was I gonna try the air blast trick...the pick and magnet worked great.
I'll see if I can't post up a video tomorrow. Next up is Mooses UCABS, then radiator and a ultra cool electric fan conversion. It was a productive weekend out at my brothers. Got the headlight wiring all sorted out and perfect, fixed the window channel (no more wind noise), got my shimmy fixed and valves checked. Not a lot left on my list.
Let me know if you need any help. What about the crank nut socket and long ratchet ? Pick to get the shims out ? Angled feeler gauge ?
