Why doesn't anyone make shims in .001 and .002? I've always had to make my own, and it's a pain in the butt! With all the T's around, I would think someone would do this!

The laminated shims available from all the major parts vendors easily peel apart in .002” increments.

Surely you must have plenty of “original” shims. They are all over the place at swap meets!

The Guy that Babbitts for Snyders Told Tom that .016 is enough, and you don't need .002 thousandths shims, so what does that tell you about some Guys work.

The shims should be .032, each in .002 thousandths pieces.

Also .003 thousandths is a little cheaper, to make, but not as good for use.

I'm with you Larry, so now we use TWO sets of .016., Plus the .002, and the .001 thousandths.

That cost us more in time and material.

Herm

Is that new “original” shims, Adam?

There is nothing like that at Swap Meets in this part of the country. Maybe I could buy some N.O.S. from you?

Herm.

That was supposed to be kind of humorous, but I guess maybe it wasn’t too obvious.

But seriously; Larry, if you need some decent used shims that I believe are .001”, let me know and I’ll dig around, check sizes and mail you some or bring to Chickasha.

Herm: Thanks for sharing how you like to shim bearings, but can you tell me What the total thickness of shims that came installed in a brand new T motor from the Ford factory was?

Parts books even into the 1930's list 2 brass shims per bolt on the mains, thickness? and no shims available for rods from Ford for reconditioning engines, by the late 1920's you could buy a .025" rod.

After all the rebuilding of rods, and the main caps, and fittings caps by filing, in years past, it is not safe to use a thin stack of shims.

Plus, all main caps, and rod caps have different size bore.

Babbitt will not fail from .016 over what ever you will ever use, but a cap can fail from .016, being shorted from what it could use.

We have always used .032 thousandths shim packs.

If your are pouring enough Babbitt for .030 to .050 under, you will lock up the Align bore bar by tightening the cap with less then a .032 thousandths shim pack, normally.

Herm.

Looks like Adam is the only one who may have any!
My question is why don't the vendors sell them? When I'm taking up rods, I need that close of a fit, and I don't see why I'm the only person that needs such a shim! Perhaps, others like to set up their rods looser.

Are the laminated shims no longer made? It's been a long time since I took up shims, but they used to come as a glued, or soldered together stack of .002 brass pieces. I also used to be able to buy a sheet of shim stock rolled up in a small box from the local auto store. However, I dropped in there last night to get some pieces of welding rod, and they no longer carry that!

Larry, read my first post. Snyder makes them, call as I did.

Herm.

I just checked Snyders catalog, and his are .002". That doesn't sound like .001" to me!

I don't know of any body that ever made Model, T, A, or B shim packs in .001. Just .002, and .003's.

What I was referring to was .001 and .002 thousandths to have to make your own.

I am glad to hear Snyders has the .002 thousandths packs again.

Now if they would make the packs in .032 thousandths again, I wouldn't have to put in two main sets.


Herm.

I make .001" and .0015" shims from aluminum foil. (Different grades are different thicknesses.) It only takes a minute.