Valve adjustment complication

[maigret]

Just giving the Esprit a major service including adjusting valve clearances.

The manual states that it will have either an o-ring around the oil feed or a gasket under the cam housing. Mine had both.

It appears that the engine I have should not have the gasket (loctite only), however removing it means having to grind another 20 thou off the shims plus the adjustment I need!

The complication arises in that the shoulders on the part that the shim sits into will be higher than the shim. Do I grind the shims and remove material from the shim carrier...... or other solution?

ps Anyone know who may stock a rotor/annulus kit for oil pump?

[Esprit2]

maigret said:

It appears that the engine I have should not have the gasket (loctite only), however removing it means having to grind another 20 thou off the shims plus the adjustment I need

Graeme,

Eliminating the gasket is an improvement. The old gasket used to become saturated in time and would then wick oil out of the joint. Eliminating it and sealing the cam carrier directly to the head provides a more reliable, dry joint. Use Permabond A136, Loctite 518, Permatex Anaerobic Gasket Maker or similar anaerobic sealant. The Loctite 504 recommended in the old Lotus manuals is still around, but the new generation of sealants is better.

maigret said:

The complication arises in that the shoulders on the part that the shim sits into will be higher than the shim. Do I grind the shims and remove material from the shim carrier...... or other solution?

Look inside a tappet. The inside of the top surface is not flat. There's a raised surface that will reach down to a thin shim that sits below the rim of the spring retainer. I've used shims a little less than 0.060" thick without a problem.

Consider just buying new shims in the correct size. That's a lot of grinding-to-dimension to do. The shims are not very expensive and I would expect a new one would be less than the cost of grinding an old one down... unless you happen to have access to a surface grinder.

Regards,
Tim Engel
Lotus Owners Oftha North

[maigret]

Ah yes. I see what you mean. I am used to dealing with FIAT/Lancia heads that have shims on top of the buckets.

Going a mile down the road to engineer to get them ground is still probably easier than shipping new shims 12000 miles....I'll see what they say.

The shims are currently 100-110 thou so that will drop to 80-90

[Esprit2]

maigret said:

Going a mile down the road to engineer to get them ground is still probably easier than shipping new shims 12000 miles....I'll see what they say.

Graeme,

The valve shims are not unique to Lotus, so you may be able to find a local source for them. The same size shims were also used in:
Lotus-Ford Twin Cam _ .060" - .150" in .001 steps.
Cosworth ___________ .060" - .150" in .001 steps.
Coventry Climax ______ .060" - .150" in .001 steps.
Hillman IMP __________ .060" - .150" in .001 steps.
Saab 99 _____________ .090" - .120"
Triumph TR-7 _________ .070" - .120" in even sizes (.070, .072, etc.)

One of the best Hillman Imp specialists on the planet is in New Zealand:
IMPWERKS (Brian Bradshaw)
Unit 7/9 Print Place
Middleton, Christchurch
New Zealand
[phone] Phone
[phone] Fax
[phone] Mobile
<[e-mail]> E-mail
<www.impwerks.co.nz/> Website
Part No ___ Description _____________ Price
ETS01N ___ Tappet shims (all sizes) ___ NZ$3.00 ea


Most Saab new car dealerships near me (Minnesota, USA) no longer service the older cars like the 99, but many still have their shop bin of valve shims. The service departments didn't go to the parts department when they needed shims. They worked out of a flat metal shim-case with a lift-top and lots on little bins partitioned off inside… one bin per shim size. It was considered shop supplies. They don't use them anymore, but the case full of shims is usually still there collecting dust somewhere if you can find it. I go to Saab dealers, ask to speak with the most senior mechanic, and ask him if they still have their Saab 99 shim collection. The manager and the parts counter guy usually have no clue what I'm asking for, but the knarly old guy with dirty hands knows right where to go.

Several local Saab dealers have sold their entire shop shim supply (case, shims, micrometer) to me for around US$40. I've got more shims now than I can shake a stick at. Another Saab dealer simply allows me to swap shims at no cost as long as I leave as many as I take. But when I "need" more and press him for a price, he shakes his head, groans, and waves me off and saying, "Awww, just take what you need. We don’t need them any more". I don't understand why he won't just sell the whole mess to me… I'm taking them 3 or 4 at a time no charge the way it is.

Good luck,
Tim Engel
Lotus Owners Oftha North
Minnesota, USA

[maigret]

Thanks Tim

Impwerks is only 100 miles up the road so I'll give them a call. Failing that a local engineering firm has said they can grind them.


Graeme

[maigret]

Have spoken to Brian at Impwerks. If I give him my old shims he will provide exchange ones free. There will only be a labour charge if he has to grind any.

Can't get a better deal than that.

Graeme

[dr.hess]

If you only need to take off a few thousands, it is pretty easy with a piece of glass and some valve grinding compound. Of course, you need a mic or real good set of calipers to see where you are at.

I would be careful on grinding more. Aren't these things heat treated? Take off too much and you are through the hard part and they wear fast. That's what I always thought.

Dr.Hess

[maigret]

Yes, Brian is only going to grind those he has to (the nearest size over). Those he doesn't have to grind I get free.

Just posted my current set off to him for a swap.