Gaps & Feeler Gauges: Tolerances

[Coastie]

My valve clearance is listed as .120 (metric). The closest feeler gauge I could find is .127; I couldn't find 2 .06 gauges either.

How precise do these tolerances need to be?

[jdpas29]

apparently pretty precise. the gaps on my vino were difficult to get exactly right because the stupid crankshaft is so easily moved. i suggest using something to stabilize whatever you turn the crankshaft with when you do the gaps b/c a slight move really changed the gap a lot when i was doing mine. if you have to be off by a little, be a little on the more open side. .127 is basically a .005 inch which is big for the intake and small for the exhaust so. i would recommend dropping a dollar or two on a dog-legged feeler gauge set.