I am trying to install some new rockers on my rebuilt head and when I bolt the cam towers down to spec the intake valve rockers are so tight that they are slightly cracking the intake valves when they are on the base circles. The exhaust valves have enough clearance to wiggle them slightly on the base circle. I was reading the FSM and it states that I can use thinner shims with the hydraulic adjusters. These are $22 a piece here on peachparts. They should only give me another .3 mm of clearance. Am I missing something here?

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'88 300ce black/gray
'88 300e 3.0 5 Speed! gray/gray

Did the machine shop set the installed height of the valves correctly?

Yes, you can change those shims to change the lifter base setting.

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Well I dont know if the machine shop set the installed height correctly or not. I guess I can measure from the base of the head to the tip of the valve and check that? How is that adjustable? Thinner valve base plate? I ordered one of those special thin shims to see if it will take out the extra "throw". How tight are they supposed to be? I figure they should be just loose enough on the base circles to wiggle the rocker from side to side but no up and down play correct?

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'88 300ce black/gray
'88 300e 3.0 5 Speed! gray/gray