can u adjust valve shims without shim fork ?

[DRHSMITH]

hey was just wondering got 2 valves that are slgihtly off i have 3 parts cars worth of extra shims so i assume i could find one that was closer then the ones that were out, now the remaining queston can i remove shims wihtout the fork and witohut taking off cam box?

[Damini]

You need something that would hold up the lifters so you can get the shims in and out

[BEEK]

if you intend to do your own valve adjustment, just buy the tool, it is invaluable to the job. granted i dont know what they cost today as i have had mine for 30 years, but couldn't live without them

[azruss]

trying to remove the shims without the tool can be done. just need something to hold the shim cup down while the cam is up. a piece of flat bar or proper width screwdriver would work. what makes the fork tool work is the cam lob presses down the valve. the fork then holds it down while you rotate the cam 180 degrees. easy peasy. with a screwdriver or flat bar you get to try to hold them in place while rotating the cam. other possibility is to use something to pry the valve down with the cam lob up. I suspect the funky way will slip out of place a dozen times before you get it to work. The question is, how many times do you want to head-butt the wall. As others have said, bite the bullet and get the tool...you will thank yourself in the end.

[DRHSMITH]

is the shim fork a generic tool or something i have to order specifaically for the fiat shims ?

[azruss]

it is a fiat spider specific tool. I made my own, but had a factory tool to copy.

[BEEK]

a vw tool can be made to work, but its a pita. and not correct, and costs as much as the proper tool