Safe Minimum Valve Clearance for Small Block?

[SmithSwede]

Anyone have a SWAG for what an acceptable minimum valve clearance is for a 2013 small block? 

I have checked mine every 6,000 miles and keep a record.  The exhaust valves either stay at 0.08 inch or at worst they recede to 0.07 inch.  After the first 20,000 miles the intake valves have not moved. 

So I am wondering if I could not rationally extend my valve check interval.   Assuming it is linear, I could go to maybe 12,000 miles, and worse case the exhaust valves would be 0.06 inch. Well then . . . but is 0.06 inch ok? 

At what clearance would you think:  crap, that is too tight and I should have loosened them up before now?

[oldbike54]

 What kind of tyres are you running ?

 Dusty

[pete roper]

Four and six thou works just fine.

[twowings]

Use a go-no go feeler gauge...makes it simple...

[Zoom Zoom]

I can only relate my experience with the 1100 donk.

When new, I needed to touch up the valves just about every 6K miles. As miles and time marched on, I discovered those intervals became unnecessary. Somewhere between 21 and 25K miles, I realized they had settled in. It got to the point that I would check them once a year and there were a few that they didn't need adjusted.

Perhaps the small block is different, but if you are seeing no movement, I would extend you valve check interval gradually until you determine what is needed.

As an aside, I made it a habit to coat the bottom side of the valve cover gasket with plumbers grease, AKA silicone grease. I do the same with the pan gasket, btw. In any case, the gasket will stick to the valve cover where, if it is damaged, it can be easily removed on the bench. I got many valve checks out of a set of gaskets by doing that. (Keeps the gaskets stuck to the part being removed that way.)

John Henry