Setting valve clearances

[Freebird]

Hi Everyone

This is my first post having recently bought a 3.2 X300.

It is a beautiful car in every way except that the engine is lumpy, the seller advised of this and had spent quite some time and money trying to find a cure.

The first thing I did once I got it home was to check the compression with the engine cold and the results were not good, No 1 and 6 being considerably lower than the others at 7 and 5.5 bar respectfully. So next I checked the valve clearances and 3 inlet valves had no clearance at all.

So, I need to get most of the valves re-shimmed (some are in spec) and anticipate a garage will charge about what I paid for the car to do them. I am perfectly capable of doing this myself, but of course I don't have a vast selection of shims to choose from. I can't even calculate what size I need for the 3 with no measurable clearance so will have to do those by trial and error 1st time round.

So to get to my question. What are my options? Is there a way of borrowing shims and buying those I eventually use?

Cheers for now.

Glen.

[ptjs1]

Hi Glen,

Welcome to the x300 section of the Bulletin Board!

Others may be able to add their experience but this sounds quite unusual to me. How many miles has the engine done? We know of many AJ16-engined cars that have racked up huge mileages but I've not heard of valves going out of adjustment before. Might be worth giving David Marks a ring to get his view on the problem.

I suspect that if you have a nice word with your local dealer, they could probably get you a selection of shims and let you buy what you need.

Good luck

Paul

[Popsjag]

Hi Glen.

Welcome to the JEC.

With regards to checking the compression, did you do it as per the guide given in the manual (with a fully charged battery):
With all spark plugs removed, throttle fully open, engine at operating temperature and a minimum cranking speed of 300 RPM? (Not that I am suggesting you didn't, but it might give you different readings).

Ideally you want 11 to 11.7 bar with a maximum difference of 0.7 bar.

Regards,
Steve.

[Freebird]

Hi Glen,

Welcome to the x300 section of the Bulletin Board!

Others may be able to add their experience but this sounds quite unusual to me. How many miles has the engine done? We know of many AJ16-engined cars that have racked up huge mileages but I've not heard of valves going out of adjustment before. Might be worth giving David Marks a ring to get his view on the problem.

I suspect that if you have a nice word with your local dealer, they could probably get you a selection of shims and let you buy what you need.

Good luck

Paul

Thanks Paul

The car has done 146000 miles, not a huge amount. It has got an LPG conversion and a flash lube fitted. I have not heard that either of these would cause the valves to recess which seems to be what has happened here.

I will get in touch with David.

Thanks again

Glen