Project: Building a SR20DET Head to rev 9000K+ [PICS HEAVY]

[jubee]

Awsome man this is def a good writeup Solid lifters FTW i just got my MBV solid lifters cant wait to get these bad boys in.

what are you using to grind down the shims down to the propper size?

[ILikeMy240sx]

Im not grinding my shims... Im just figuring out what size I need then ordering from Tomei.

How does his kit look?

Does he say anything about rocker ratio in his manual?

Ive found my ratio to be different than the ones recommened by Tomei... They recommend 1.43 and Ive found mine to be around 1.33 but it varies slightly from rocker to rocker.

[ILikeMy240sx]

Just an update. Im almost done measuring all the cam clearance.

On top of that, I put the Japanese manual that Tomei included through a OCR software to get editable text that I can copy and paste and then used Google to translate the entire document. I am planning to make an english document of this.

This will help so many of you planning to go with Tomei solid lifters.

Just be patient with me... this cam clearance measurment is taking a while since I am maticulate and also when I upload the english version of this manul, it should be exciting!!!

[S13FASTBACKSR]

thats awesome man i'd really appreciate that!!

[C - ROD]

im in the process of rebuilding my bottom end with all forged internals, im also doing the head but have ot started yet, i have the valve seals, & guides, will the intake valve guides from the fwd sr20de work for my redtop?i got the exhaust side from LS Automotive

[S13FASTBACKSR]

As I mentioned before, Intake is from a Sentra SR20 and exhaust side is from any DOHC KA.

[ILikeMy240sx]

Finally got through measuring all my clearance...

So here is a write up on how to measure cam clearance and figure out which shim/rocker guide size you need.

You need to get your rocker arm cut like shown as recommended by Tomei. The following is actually copied from Tomei's manual. I think this is necessary because the solid lifter is higher than your normal HLA so when the cam lobe pushes on the rocker arm, the tip might dig into the shim.

Tomei sells test kits that have 2.7mm and 2.8mm sizes. According to their manual, you use 2.7mm on the exh side and 2.8mm on the intake side. You can see that the ones marked 2700 are 2.7mm and 2800 are 2.8mm. So when you measure cam clearance in intake side, use 2.8mm and use 2.7mm for the exhaust side.

Now. In order for you to measure the cam clearance, you need to have the cam lobe pointing upwards. Since the orientation of the cam lobes on the camshaft doesnt allow you to have all cam lobes facing up, you need to do one rocker arm by one rocker arm. If your head is still on the block, you can rotate the engine to get the cam lobe you want to point up. I obviously can't do that with the head out of the car so I need to do one rocker arm by one rocker arm.

Install the proper size guide/shim for the side you are working on. The guides goes on the left valve and the shims go on the right valve of each cylinder.Position the rocker arm you want as shown and apply assy lube to cam journals.

Now position the cam in the journals and apply more assy lube as shown

Now install cam caps IN ORDER and tighten to spec. Notice I used the cam oiler temporarily so I can tighten that bolt. Also please stop right here and right now if you do not have a torque wrench to tighten this. You WILL break the bolt and you WILL strip threads. Please go get yourself a torque wrench that can do inch*lb so that you can go in very small values.

You might want to use a good moly lube like this one on the bolts since you will be tightening and loosening alot. Applying this type of lube will be more gentle on the threads.

Now make sure the cam lobe that you want to measure is pointing up and use a feeler gauge to measure the clearance. You need to measure both sides of the rocker pad since the guide side and the shim side might not be perfectly flat.

Here is a picture that Tomei had on their manual telling you to measure both sides.

For those of you who do not know how to use a feeler gauge. You shouldn't be doing this but I will explain. You want to insert a feeler gauge and feel that the gauge has a slight drag to it. Start by a relatively big size and work your way down until you feel absolutely no drag. Then go up to the next size and you will probably feel a slight drag. Then go up another size and the gauge probably will not go in. You want to select the size that you felt a slight drag.

You can also combine .0015 size and other .00X sizes to go in .0005" increments as shown. You want to first figure out a ballpark clearance with .00X sizes then "fine tune" with .0015 gauge. For example, the picture shows .0075". I would use this after I narrow down my clearance to be around .007"

Make a sheet like this and record all the clearance you measure

When you are done it should look like this. (Im still waiting for the rocker arm to come in so my 3rd bank in the exh side is missing info)

Now to figure out what shim/rocker size you need.

1) According to Nissan, they recommend .14~.17mm of clearance between the rocker pad and the cam lobe. I opted go with .155mm which is smack in the middle.

2) Take the clearance you measured and subtract .155mm from it.

3) Multiply that difference by 1.43 (this is the rocker ratio in Tomei manual)

4) Add on the result you got from 3 to the test shim size. And that is the size you need.

Now if this math sounds complicated, download this spreadsheet that I made which will do the calculation for you.http://www-personal.umich.edu/...2.xls

Here is what my spreadsheet looks like with all my clearance entered in.

Visit this site to order proper shims from Tomei.http://www.tomei-p.co.jp/_2003....html
Modified by ILikeMy240sx at 4:35 PM 2/5/2007

[S13FASTBACKSR]

amazing..you are the man you recommend the .155 cam clearance for any solid lifter and cam combination?
Modified by S13FASTBACKSR at 5:07 PM 2/1/2007

[ILikeMy240sx]

yup. It seems like thats what most people recommend and what Nissan recommends in their FSM and what Tomei recommends.

By the way, Tomei listed that clearance .14~.17mm saying thats what Nissan recommends. (Probably for N14 GTI-R setup which has solid lifters from the factory)

[nonvtecaccord]

So you order the lifters and test shims. Then measure and order the correct shims? Can you use the stock rocker arms with this setup? Because they look different in this picture.

[S13FASTBACKSR]

you can use the factory rocker arms but you have to cut the tip of the rocker..check out his diagram a couple of posts up it shows you

[nonvtecaccord]

yeah I seen that, I guess it didn't sink in. But the whole rocker arm is different in the tomei picture vs the stock one. Does tomei make a custom rocker arm for this setup.

[ILikeMy240sx]

yeah I seen that, I guess it didn't sink in. But the whole rocker arm is different in the tomei picture vs the stock one. Does tomei make a custom rocker arm for this setup.

No, its just the way its drawn. Tomei doesn't make custom rocker arms for these. You just use the stock ones.

[thang nguyen]

I noticed that Tomei did not offer the exact shim and guides that you measured. Did you ordered the nearest estimate or did you call for a custom match? And did you maching the rockers yourself or did a shop do it for you?

[ILikeMy240sx]

Yes, you pretty much go to 3 decimal places and get the closes shims you can get either from Nissan or Tomei. Tomei has more sizes that Nissan doesnt.

Im actually going to ask my local machine shop if they can grind the shims I already have. Maybe put them in a mill and cut them. Also, Im going to ask my local machine shop if they can cut the rocker arm.

Shims from Tomei are freaking $10 a pop... man this chit adds up preatty quick haha. Anyone want to buy my test kit?
Modified by ILikeMy240sx at 7:17 PM 2/3/2007

[ILikeMy240sx]

I made some updates to the spreadsheet so that its easier for you to select the closest available sizes.

[S13FASTBACKSR]

how much do you want for the test kit man? you have my email let me know -alex

[180SXV]

Many props, best thread yet on headwork info. One question though, I'm having problems finding a dealer for the Tomei shims and guides and would like to know which dealer/s has them for sale. I wanna find them before I start on my car.

[S13FASTBACKSR]

I am pretty sure http://WWW.RHDJAPAN.COM is the cheapest

[ILikeMy240sx]

When I bought the solid kit and the test kit from RHDJapan, I asked them if they could order the shim/guide sizes I need and they said YES.

Also, I found some authorized Tomei delears that could supply as well.

I just sent out email to RHDJapan to get estimates on cost and time so I will let you guys know what they say.

Also, on Monday, I plan to take the shims and rocker arms to the machine shop and see if they can machine them for me. Might be much cheaper than paying $10 for each shim/guide I need.

[S13FASTBACKSR]

Also, on Monday, I plan to take the shims and rocker arms to the machine shop and see if they can machine them for me. Might be much cheaper than paying $10 for each shim/guide I need.

Good idea

[DrifterProdigy85]

How often you think the Solid Lifters will need reshimmed?

[S13FASTBACKSR]

after talking with taesoo about this he told me probably about every 5000 miles

[ILikeMy240sx]

yeah my guess is... after your first 4~5000 miles, you are going to have to replace few shims because you will be breaking in new cams so things will wear down a little bit which will obviously change the clearance. But after that it shouldn't change much.

[S13FASTBACKSR]

so after the first time of reshimming you will not have to do it again at all ..is that what your saying?

[ILikeMy240sx]

no you will still have to do it but I doubt that after the first 5000 miles or so, you have to change out many shims.

You will probably need to replace one or two but not many every 5000 miles after the first 5000 miles.

I know for fact that they need to be adjusted because GTI-R motors are notorious for making tappeting noise due to people not adjusting shims. They have solid lifters so thats one of the things they have to keep in check.

BTW, I just finished translating that Tomei manual... Just gotta put it into PDF now.

[ILikeMy240sx]

English version of the Tomei Solid Lifters Manual

Translated by yours truely.

http://www-personal.umich.edu/...h.pdf
Modified by ILikeMy240sx at 9:25 PM 2/5/2007

[welddrft]

I know this is kind of off topic guys but you ever rebuild the bottom end of an SR before? I just want to see what techniques people mostly use for bearing clearance.

[ILikeMy240sx]

[offtopic]

Yes, Ive built my bottom end many times...

You use a plastigauge to measure the clearance for your bearings.

Some people like using calipers and micrometers and just taking the difference but I prefer to use plastigauge as this shows the clearance when everything is torqued down just the way it will be when the engine is running.

[/offtopic]

[welddrft]

Excellent, hey you think I can get your number, I really need advice on what im doing, to make sure I dont f*** anything up.