Billman250

Correct.

45 degree feelers gauges work nice. The bent part of the 45 degree gauges is about an inch long. Bend that 1" part right in the middle 45 degrees. Two 45 degree bends, the gauge becomes a right angle, and makes for perfect fit and feel.

Be sure exhausts are .011 on 2006-2009 cars.

Chuck S

Exhaust is the critical valve. Exhaust spec is 0.010 to 0.011 and should be set to the high end (0.011) as they tighten in use so 0.012 is the too loose/won't fit NO-GO gauge.

Pretty sure there may be revised or more detailed information in Bill's warning thread on the DBW cars where he defines this.

Intake spec is 0.008 to 0.010 and the loose end of that is good as well.

-- Chuck

HarryD

Thanks everyone -- I ended up buying these:
https://store.snapon.com/Bent-And-St...--P635153.aspx

The valve adjustment took me 4-5 hours for my first time on my 2002 AP1 w/ 110k miles, after a 24-hour cooldown. Last adjustment was by a s2000 shop 50k miles ago.

Since it's not a DBW AP2, I adjusted towards the tight side.

I used the go-no-go method of (loose, snug, tight):

• loose = super loose, minimal drag to get in
• snug = snug to tight
• tight = can't get this one in at all!

I measured first, then adjusted, then triple-checked every cylinder and used a torque wrench.

I'm hoping I didn't do it wrong, or do it too-tight... At the end of this, I'm exhausted and my hands/feet/back hurt, and I still don't know what the proper "drag" is supposed to feel like... so hopefully my (loose, snug, tight) method doesn't burn a valve or blow up my engine!

Chuck S

The clearances all tend to tighten in use. AP1 or AP2 engine doesn't matter.

My '06 with the AP2 engine and DBW was in spec at 40,000 miles and I saw no evidence there had been a previous check or adjustment. Unless something in the cylinder head changed in 2006 DBW cars it's my impression some of the valves were tight from the factory not from wear.

Anyway, in-spec is in-spec.

-- Chuck

Backmarker

I used straight ones, and bent them myself. Never had an issue breaking them in the past. I feel the pre-bent ones aren't bent enough to get a great angle.

I take them off the keychain like thing to use them individually, and then bend them at 90 degree angles and they work great.

Im in the same boat, just did my fist one and I was in pain for a whole day afterwards after leaning over the car all afternoon. I really hope I didnt screw mine up either, but the good news is -- shes still alive a few weeks later with nothing out of the ordinary that wasn't there already. Haha

Slowcrash_101

You guys it's really not that bad. Rub your fingers against the nearest wall, that's the resistance you want to feel from the gauge.