So I've been trying to sort out my rocker train on my 383/451 build over the past few weeks and I'm at a bit of an impasse. I'm attempting to use Crane 1.6 Iron rockers and my wipe pattern wants an .040 shim.

In an attempt to avoid potential pedestal split problem, I trimmed the shims back. This helps but doesn't completely solve the pinch problem at the top of the saddle. Someone had posted awhile back that someone sold tapered shims but I can't find them. Hughes sells straight aluminum shims and Mancini sells straight steel ones.

I've already wasted a lot of time and money trying to sort out this setup, I'm not sure what to do next, short of tearing heads apart and having having valve stem tips shortened.

In hindsight, it would have been way easier to just buy Harland Sharps for this build which would move the wipe pattern outwards, but its way overkill for such a mild street motor.

Does anyone know if a tapered rocker shim is actually available?