Hi Everyone, i would like to adjsut valves on my 308. I need the special tools anyone know where i can get them and for how much? Also i need the shims, do they sell kits or each, if so how much can i expect to pay each or for the kit? Thanks Nick
If your 308 is a two-valve motor, you can use either Fiat, or Volvo valve shims. With the Volvo shims, they'll be readily avaliable at your local Volvo dealer. Figure a couple of bucks for each shim you need.
Providing that you have all the shims and tools needed to do the job, I would budget one weekend for the first timer. If you have done it before (then you would not ask these questions) then it would be an all day affair. If you have done it many many times before, you can get it done in 4 hours. You can make your own tools, if you feel like it. Here is what they look like. I was never able to find a Volvo shim for less than $6 US. Image Unavailable, Please Login
this is a good time to do your cam seals if you going this far + timing belts. the best way to do this is to measure your shims and record . put the motor in time + put the cams in time than pull the cams of and you can slide the cam seals of the cams with out taking of the cam sprokets from other side of the cam. put the corect shims in the buckets put the cams back and time cams + motor.
Dumb question from a newbie: Exactly why do these cars (mine's a 308 carb car) need valve adjustments? Do the shims eventually wear out, and the valves no longer seat properly--or activate in proper time? Seems like once you set them, using shims, they'd stay set... Sorry for the really basic question, but this is my 1st F-car, and I'm just curious... Greg
As the valve face and valve seat (in the head) wear, the valve recedes into the head, making it sitck up further on the top.
Wow, so the actual valves and heads lose some material over time? Do they eventually become so worn as to be useless? Or do shims provide enough of a solution? Greg
No, they become so worn as to eventually reach the point where there is no clearance & so the valve can never close properly - at which point you burn the valves. The reality on 308/328s is that (fortunately) there is very little movement. I just had my 328 checked at 31K a couple of months ago. 29 were in spec and 3 were actually very slightly too wide. I.
Another mechanism of shim clearance change with time is wear on the surface of the shim. The shim has a hardened surface, and as this wears away the shim can become concave. You may re-use a shim once by flipping it over. If the opposite surface is fresh, then you may use it again in one of the buckets. Volvo shims cost me approximately $5.00. I got shims from GT Car Parts in Arizona for $3.50 (approximately). I understand that the original spec for shim clearance in early Dinos was tighter than later published by the factory (for noise purposes). Hence, if you find that you are in between the spec, err on the side of making the clearance looser by .05 mm. The shims come in steps of .05 mm (for example, 4.00 mm, 4.05 mm, 4.10 mm, etc.). If your shim has a thickness number Laser etched on one side, place that side down so that you can use it again in the future and have a reference for the thickness. You will need a micrometer or calibers to measure the existing shims, which, together with the clearance measured represents the space available. You will figure it out. Be prepared to measure your clearances several times before removing a shim or taking out your cams. Write down the clearances in a tabulated manner, and go from cylinder to cylinder. Do this a second time (WITHOUT LOOKING AT YOUR PREVIOUS MEASUREMENTS), and I suspect you will be surprised that on more than a few valves you will come up with a different number. Good luck. Jim S.
Excellent posts! The only thing I might add is it can be much more economical to purchase the shimss in a set of 100. I hae seen them advertised for $150.00 - $160.00 often with free freight. Look under Volvo, 1974-1980 240 I do not know the exact year of Fiat, but this is a great way to go in the long run. HTH Kermit
Here is one link. Do a search for Volve parts, there is a bunch of parts houses out there http://replacement.autopartswarehouse.com/parts/autopartswarehouse/wizard.jsp?year=1979&make=VO&model=240--002&category=A&part=Valve+Adjust+Shim+Kit Kermit
Volvo shims are the same 76 thru 93, any 4 cyl sohc. I've seen 29 years worth of high mileage Volvos and never saw a shim wear. Tom
Does anyone have the contact info for gt car parts. I just lost the set of shims on ebay and i need to get some shims before i start damaging some valves. They are getting pretty noisy. Does anyone know where i can find a kit? Thanks Nick
Enter this in an eBAY search: +(ferrari,fiat,volvo) +(shim,shims) Once you have the search results, click on the words "Add to Favorites". eBAY will run the search automaticly daily & send you eMAIL. Usually the kits that go for the best prices are are listed as being for Volvo or Fiat & don't mention a 2V Ferrari. Just confirm that it's a kit of 33mm shims. Here are a couple of Volvo shim kit suppliers. These $167/kit prices will be very hard to beat on eBAY: http://www.carpartsteam.com/VO_240_Engine+Parts_Valve+Adjust+Shim+Kit_019.html http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=volvo+valve+shim+kit+33mm&hl=en&lr=&sa=N&tab=ff&oi=froogler The link that Kermit posted is probably for a similar deal.
One of the jobs I need to do this winter is check the valves on my 84QV. My guess was that the shims would be some type of Fiat, Lancia or Alfa. Reading this thread makes me think they are descrete to Ferrari, does anybody know if that is the case ? Thanks
No, they are not a Ferrari only item. I couldn't unfortunately tell you the other uses, but I'm sure a search of archives will get the info a I recall it being a topic before. It seem to come to mind that Fiat was one. If archives fails, check online parts houses, as many have online catalogs that will list. HTH Kermit
Yes the Volvo '76 to 80 240 series motor B21 is the source of the 33mm shims for the 2 valve, but I don't think they have an application for the 29mm lash discs that the 4 valve engine requires. Did you look in archives? Kermit
