I found this guide for setting valve clearance

http://www.lextreme.com/valve_clearance.html

in the 4th frame down there is a tool for depressing the valve for shim removal. Where do i get one of these?

 

ordered one from Amazon

Schley Products- Inc SCH88250 Valve Adjusting Tools Toyota-Lexus

 

Unless Your Lexus has over 150,000 miles I would not mess with the valve clearance. Besides I believe its made of Hydraulic lifters that do not need adjustment, check your manual !

 

I haven't actually seen one of those outside of the manual, I've always measured and if any are out of spec or way off (rare) then pull cams, measure shims, swap/ make adjustments, reinstall and check gaps again. Rarely do they need any adjustments unless they've been mixed up at some point, in that case you can usually figure out where they're supposed to go from one round of measuring and swapping around and don't mix up your buckets keep them in the same place. So measure first and the most likely scenario is they don't need to be re shimmed.

The more handy tool is the toyo tool for compressing the valve springs, as it's a good idea to do valve stem seals when your doing head work. Eventually they'll start smoking so it's good to do it once when it's easy.

 

I know this thread old and probably resolved but here. This is where you'd get factory special service tools. I mean its definitely dealer money that people like me cant even touch upon. but is something.
https://toyota.service-solutions.com...ages/home.aspx

 

Thanks for this one... Maybe useful for later use.

 

Me again. somehow stumbled onto lexus' special service tools. its probably all the same but for giggles here.
https://lexus.service-solutions.com/...ages/home.aspx

 

There are lots of places to get these tools, just google the part numbers.

 

Sure, I'm just posting resources. Just went down the rabbit hole on ProDemand and found myself staring at spec tools for Lexus. but if I'm posting in the wrong hood, someone let me know?