I am trying to adjust valve lash, I have 6 intake valves that need readjustment. One of the valves are way out of spec.

Anyways, I was told by Courtesy Nissan that Nissan no longer makes these shims. I am totally shocked! Sure the 4th gen is old, but not that old!

Anyone have a spare head that they are willing to part out the shims for me?

 

Haha, can still get them for the first gen. Also, just because they no longer make them does not mean there are not any sitting on the shelves still. You need to find a better parts source.

 

Who would you recommend I contact?

 

You mean these shims?

Personally I would cantact Dave B. at Southpointe Nissan in Austin, TX. He gives .org discounts. Just search for his number in the forums.

 

Hello,

Yes, those shims are no longer manufactured according to Courtesy Parts. I purchased the shims I needed via their online site, and the next day, Courtesy Parts refunded my order stating the shims are no longer available. I contacted one other vendor online and they are looking into it for me.

However, I need to contact the individual you state in your post.

Thank you!

 

In case you guys don't know, as ef9 alluded to, if you click on the part on courtesy's site...under "price and availability", if it says "Usually leaves our warehouse in 2-4 business days." that means Nissan lists a part number for the item but they have to order it, sometimes from Japan. The part may be discontinued when they contact their supplier. Plus, good luck getting anything from Japan right now.

As far as shims go...why can't you just measure what size shim is required and buy them for another, newer car? The part number should cross reference somewhere I imagine...

 

The VQ40DE (same engine in my Xterra) doesn't have shims. I'm not sure how the valves are adjusted for valve lash, hadn't had time to look it up yet.

Machining new shims at a machine shop would be too expensive. The tolerances are pretty close.

Also, I asked this question before on the forum: "why does my engine make a ticking sound at idle?" Everyone who responded said it's my injectors making that ticking sound and not the valves. One of my intake valves are way off! But I do have a total of 6 intake valves that need new shims.

Other option is to look for a used head, and take the shims from there, or check valve lash on the donor head(s) and swap them in.

 

Somebody has to make shims that fit and are the correct tolerances. They are just little metal washers, right?

Maybe try JWT, since they make cams for VQ's and they include a shim kit with their VQ35 cams. Worth a shot...

 

Their shims are actually spring seats, not valve shims.

Just search for Southpoint Nissan, call their parts department, and ask for Dave Burnette. Also, you could try to post this in the All Motor forum.

 

Try a local machine shop. They have catalogues from companies that make shims for various vehicles. VW uses discs, not sure what size though.

 

I probably have 100 used shims laying around. There all from heads I tore down. I don't know the sizes of any of them but could probably check. PM me if interested.

 

Thanks for all of the posts. The shims are made out of hardened steel and are micro polished to reduce wear to the cam surfaces, so regular steel washers wouldn't work.

Maxima Joe, you have a PM!

Thanks,

Stan

 

I found something interesting. According to this site, some of the valve shim part numbers have been replace by other parts number. Looking at the T=2.34 shim I punched 13229-8P302 into courtesy and the availability is 2-4 business days. When I use the replacement part number, 13229-53F19, the availability changes to in stock.

 

Isn't the 5thgen DE-K the same engine. Just a different manifold. Why didn't you try getting the part from that engine for the time being until you got a newer part.

 

Having not noticed that the above "this" link was for a 2001 Maxima, I ordered the shims for the 1996 I am working on. The VIN number compatibility check says they are not compatible, but they fit perfectly, and appear identical to the originals. The new part numbers ending in a letter were not found on Courtesy, but one size thinner is still well within specs. Hope this helps somebody else.