Vauxhall Valve shims

[Deleted]

Checked valve clearances on the Cavalier today and I'm in need of some shims. Apparently can't get them from Vauhall anymore and I've tried Ebay and online searches but I'm stuck Might try the breakers tomorrow and see if they have any broken 1.7 Isuzu engines Can see me having to buy a complete head but It's not worth spending too much on it now. Think it's at the point where it has to go, too many niggly problems. It's got a slight miss fire which could either be the clearances or an injector or a valve lol. Seems worse when cold but it's there when hot too. Glow plugs check out but seeing as it's there when hot it can't be them anyway. Seems most on ebay are 33mm diameter, these are 31.45mm diameter. A few of the exhaust shims are not thick enough

[Karl]

Engineering shop ?


Should be a place local to you who do head skim etc...

[Deleted]

I new of a good engineering place about 20 miles away, proper old school bloke, you know the type, parts list in his head, bet it shut down years ago but will try. Don't really know of any other places in south wales. The Isuzu trooper uses 31.5mm shims so I might give a dealer a call, don't think there are any within 100 miles though lol. Loads of shims around on ebay but there all 33mm diameter. If I get a second hand head just for the shims i doubt they'll be the sizes I need.

[french crap fanatic]

dont panic just yet,i bet theres loads of people with parts for these lying around buried under boxes and in cupboards!!
i will ask my engineering chap,the trouble he isnt open again till monday!!

[Deleted]

Someone on another forum just said he had a bucket load of them but gave them away when he moved. There must be loads out there somewhere, wonder if Vauxhall melted them all down for scrap lol. I mean there are still loads of cars out there that use them

[Deleted]

Just found out someone got some for their Vectra in feb so I'm wondering if the dealers having me on. Wouldn't have thought so because I've been going to him for years. Might try another dealer and quote a 96 Vectra see what happens. If only I had part numbers :/

[Dai]

Try J.S.E Heads in Pengam, 01443 835898, i know he also has a surface grinder so maybe able to skim down any over size shims you have to make up a set, I'll measure the ones i have up the garage for the old ford denzil engines, not sure of their diameter but may fit

[natedog]

Where in south Wales are you? Try bob brain developments if you're towards the border. I know a few people who he has done good work for

[Deleted]

Cheers lads Cold start up I don't normanlly rev it but if I do I've defo got a miss on one cylinder, not constant though. Doesn't seem so bad when hot today. Sometimes you can feel it at low revs when pulling in 2nd & 3rd, soon as I get to 2000 rpm all is well. It still goes like the clappers with hardly any smoke, maybe a bit of grey with a blueish tint on long hot hill climbs in low gear. Scrap yard is closed today so first port of call tomorrow is Vauxhall dealer in Pontypridd although last time I went there they were useless.

Dai that place will come in useful if I can get oversize, cheers

So I have a choice, Mot is up in Dec, it needs front & rear shocks, rear brake hoses and the rear side of drivers sill welding, got a feeling the other front wheel bearing is going as well. Just taxed and insured it so come Mot time I either bite the bullet and keep it another year or kill it lol (before it kills me)

[upkeep]

What are the valve clearances that you have measured and what do Vauxhall recommend also  I would not have the shims skimmed as this will take the case hardening off.

Regards

Upkeep

[Deleted]

Exhaust should be 0.25mm. Three of mine are 0.28mm

Inlet should be 0.15mm. These close up because of valve seat erosion. That's why these to struggle to start in the cold winter temps, low compression when the inlets have closed up. One is down to 0.03 so not quite enough for poor starting lol Two are 0.05 and one is 0.08mm.

Not sure about the case hardening. The tops of the shim are mirror finish like chrome, some with the size still stamped on. The bottom side are machine finish.

[upkeep]

All shims are case hardened, the worst I witnessed where the shims had been machined by an engineering shop was the valve stem wearing it's way into the shim resulting in a dropped valve and wrecking the engine.

[Deleted]

Car forums are great. Just got a list of sizes and part numbers. Now with part numbers I can start searching. Not had time to try the dealers yet.

Reply I got from another forum

Strange how vaux said that they are obsolete.... Anyway, these are the sizes that fit and their P/N's. some of these have been superseeded but your local garage / merchant will see that and get the newest number.
2.350 94143394
2.370 97313798
2.375 94167065
2.400 94143395
2.420 97313800
2.425 94167066
2.450 97313801
2.470 97313802
2.475 94167067
2.500 94143397
2.520 97313804
2.525 94167068
2.550 94143398
2.575 94167069
2.600 94143399
2.620 97313808
2.625 94167070
2.650 94143400
2.670 97313810
2.675 94167071
2.700 94143401
2.720 97313812
2.725 94167072
2.750 94143401
2.770 97313814
2.800 94143403
2.820 94480547
2.840 97209050
2.860 97209051
2.880 94480550
2.900 94143405
2.920 94480551
2.940 94480552
2.960 97209055
2.980 94480553
3.000 94143407
3.020 94480555
3.040 97209058
3.060 94480557
3.080 97209060
3.120 97209061
3.140 97209062
3.160 97209063
3.180 97209064
3.220 97313815
3.250 97313816
3.270 97313817
3.300 97313818
3.320 97313819
3.350 97313820
3.370 97313821
3.340 97313816
3.420 97313823
3.450 97313824
3.470 97313825
3.500 97313826
3.520 97313827
3.550 97313828

[Deleted]

Are you able to test which cyl is misfireing ?

[Deleted]

I've only got petrol compression guages. What I wanted to do was sort the clearances out and if it's still missing take it and have it checked out at the local garage. It's a very slight miss really, was going to try and get a video of it. It's been like this for ages. Tried some injector cleaner but that seemed to make the engine rougher lol. Injectors have never been touched. Doesn't use any oil or water