Valve shim tools for 4AFE?

[tashirosgt]

What are some good tools for replacing the valve shims on the 4AFE head ? I need to replace 2 of them with different shims while the head is still on the car.

I tried some tools that I got years ago at Pep Boys. They resemble the tools in the Toyota service manaul, but they aren't right for the job. There is a tool roughly like a pair of pliers with really smooth jaws that you use to depress the lifter. There is another tool like a wierd pry bar that you use to press down on the thin edge of the lifter and hold it down. You take away the pliers-like tool and flip out the lifter with a screwdriver.

The problems I have with the tools are that the pliers-like tool is too thick to use the pry bar-like tool beside of it and the pry bar-like tool is the wrong shape to hold the lifter down far enough.

[MR2Jedi]

Yeah, it's like a "tuning Fork" shape that depresses the lifter using the cam shaft for leverage.
I ordered one from Toyota. They said it would be $40.00US. I waited 6 weeks and they finally told me they couldn't get one.I was pissed after waiting that long for nothing.
I have used a big screw driver against the camshaft (not a lobe) to depress the lifter and then remove the shim with a magnet. It was only 1 lifter, but still frustrating.
The best way, is to remove the cam shaft to access the shim..