Jaguar XK engine tappet shims

[Chad speed]

A bit of help please from the Jaguar experts out there, I'am looking for someone to measure the diameter of the valve tappet shims in the Jaguar XK engine. I'am after a shim to fit in a 17.50mm recess so looking for one with an outside diameter of 17.46mm. I've been told the ones in the Jaguar XK engine are this size but have been unable to get confirmation from anywhere so far.
Any help greatly appreciated, I'am trying to find a source of new shims to replace the existing Maserati ones, thickness not important at this stage.
Ciao
Chad

[v8250]

Chadspeed, just checked my Jaguar ref' books but they don't include the data you need. Suggest give VSE a call - sure they'll be able to help

VSE
Powys, Wales, UK

Call: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Web: http://www.vse-engines.com/

Alternatively, get some off the shelf shims from a good auto-engineering Co'. You could try these guys...

http://www.arrowprecision.com/14-shims

Edited by v8250 on Thursday 24th April 18:16

[Chad speed]

v8250 said:

Chadspeed, just checked my Jaguar ref' books but they don't include the data you need. Suggest give VSE a call - sure they'll be able to help

VSE
Powys, Wales, UK

Call: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Web: http://www.vse-engines.com/

Alternatively, get some off the shelf shims from a good auto-engineering Co'. You could try these guys...

http://www.arrowprecision.com/14-shims

Edited by v8250 on Thursday 24th April 18:16

I know Arrow quire well and they don't stock flat shims, they need an order of at least 200 to manufacture, very helpful guys though.
I'll give VSE a call tomorrow, hope they can help.
Cheers

[lowdrag]

VSE have just rebuilt my 3.8 and it purrs just like a cat should. Lovely people.

[a8hex]

Not all rebuilds use the same diameter shims. My Eike Welhausen built engine had rather different shims. I'll try and see if I can get to the part of the garage which I've kept some shims from one of my XK engines and measure them.

[mph]

Found the following excerpt from a thread on valve shims which may be helpful

"As far as I'm aware most of the old Imperial engines like the Jag, Lotus, Imp etc used 5/8" (15.875mm, 0.625") diameter shims.

Aftermarket suppliers then made these as 15.55mm diameter shims to allow them to also fit other engines including the Saab 99 and 900, Maestro and Montego 1.7 and 2.0, and Rover 2.3, 2.6 engines "

[Chad speed]

mph said:

Found the following excerpt from a thread on valve shims which may be helpful

"As far as I'm aware most of the old Imperial engines like the Jag, Lotus, Imp etc used 5/8" (15.875mm, 0.625") diameter shims.

Aftermarket suppliers then made these as 15.55mm diameter shims to allow them to also fit other engines including the Saab 99 and 900, Maestro and Montego 1.7 and 2.0, and Rover 2.3, 2.6 engines "

Thanks MPH
I found that thread also but further down the page the OP who was looking for 17.5mm shims posted :

'XK engines have larger shims but the general view is the smaller dia ones
will be ok.
I managed to source and have ground, cheaply, XK shims - which was handy.'

So a bit confusing really.

a8hex, your offer to actually measure some would be very useful - thanks

--

[mph]

Chad speed said:

Thanks MPH
I found that thread also but further down the page the OP who was looking for 17.5mm shims posted :

'XK engines have larger shims but the general view is the smaller dia ones
will be ok.
I managed to source and have ground, cheaply, XK shims - which was handy.'

So a bit confusing really.

a8hex, your offer to actually measure some would be very useful - thanks

--

The point being there is more than one diameter of XK shim in use and it appears that the "genuine" ones will be too big for your requirements.

Edited by mph on Friday 25th April 10:26

[Chad speed]

mph said:

The point being there is more than one diameter of XK shim in use and it appears that the "genuine" ones will be too big for your requirements.

Edited by mph on Friday 25th April 10:26

Ok, I didn't get that impression from the thread, just that they were either 17.5mm or smaller. When I do get to the bottom of it I'll let you know.
VSE Engines closed on Fridays so that line of enquiry will have to wait.

[V8 FOU]

I have built / rebuilt many XK engines, and they have always had 5/8" shims. Just measured an E type head to confirm that.
Shims aren't too difficult to make. I have made them out of tool steel and ground to thickness in the past.

[Chad speed]

V8 FOU said:

I have built / rebuilt many XK engines, and they have always had 5/8" shims. Just measured an E type head to confirm that.
Shims aren't too difficult to make. I have made them out of tool steel and ground to thickness in the past.

Paul
Thank you very much for taking the time to do that, seems I'll have to continue the hunt. I am an Engineer as well but no longer work at a place with a machine shop so making shims will be a last resort. Maserati always did like to do things differently, sometimes it seems for the sake of it.
Chad

[Chad speed]

Just found these:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MASERATI-V8-DOHC-GHIBLI-BO...
Could save some effort if not £

[rolymo]

I have in Northampton (UK)a box of used shims for setting valve clearances , the only problem is the box is marked :- Jaguar/Lotus/Maserati but it has been so long since i last worked on these engines that it is not possible to determine which models these apply to. The Maserati will definately be DOHC 6Cyl series but the others i cannot remember.
They are all 5/8 Dia in various thickness(If you wish I can measure them with a micrometer)Total quantity is 45 items.

[lotus-types]

I bought a few old shims from a guy who said they were Jag shims (I was looking for Lotus 5/8" shims)
No idea which jag they are from, they measure approx 17.30mm to 17.38mm .....thought I may grind them down to 5/8"
Would do a swap for 5/8 shims if it would help.

[Chad speed]

Rolymo, 5/8" shims definitely wont fit the V8 so no use to me I'am afraid, however sounds like lotus-types may have a use for them.
lotus-types, 17.30-17.38mm seems too small by a few thou, no idea what they are from but again thanks for the offer. It could be they would work but I've found a good alternative solution.
I have ordered 16 different thickness shims from Heinz at HJM Imports in Wisconsin USA for $10 each plus $11 for shipping so about £102 total. Heinz assures me they are hardened so seems like a fair deal, having used ones ground to a different size would surely cost more than £6 each.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MASERATI-V8-DOHC-GHIBLI-BO...
When they arrive in about 2 weeks I'll let you know.
Chad

[lotus-types]

rolymo said:

I have in Northampton (UK)a box of used shims for setting valve clearances ,
They are all 5/8 Dia in various thickness(If you wish I can measure them with a micrometer)Total quantity is 45 items.

Rolymo,
As Chad Speed said I have use for those 5/8" shims if you want to depose of them, let me know how much you want for them.
Thanks Brian.
PS I will be away for about a week from tomorrow.

[FangioCoops]

Eyup Chad
I've been following your rebuild for a good while now. Really nice work. Thought I would jump in when I came across this entry on shims. I changed my cam chains a couple of years back on my 1969 4.7 Ghibli and did a gentle valve regrind while the heads were off, although in truth they weren't in bad shape at all.
Just wondered how this thread turned out with your shims from Bjm. As you will know by now, the owners manual is misleading on this subject re the inlet clearance. My clearances were 0.14 to 0.20 just FYI which suggests the 0.15mm inlet figure is more accurate. Do you concurr? I still get a bit of tapping noise and I'd like to minimise that next time the heads come off for a hone and ring job.
I'd appreciate any advice. Thanks for the posts and keep it up. All the best
Andy. Yorkshire.