[faintreality]

After shimming the intake valves, my exhaust valves both dropped from .011" to .009". Is this normal for the intake valve adjustment to affect the exhaust valve clearance?

I made sure the cam holder was properly seated and torqued in a cross cross pattern over several tightening increments.

Please advise if I am doing something wrong?

Thanks in advance,
Dave

[JimDirt]

are you certain the cam marks were level with the head ?? , the Exhaust work off a rocker assembly , so it should be completely separate and adjusting the Intakes would have no effect on the Exhaust gap , if you did not seat the tower correctly , then it would have a effect , but your Intakes would also be different as well

[faintreality]

Everything looked good prior to putting cylinder head cover back on. The only thing I didn't do was tighten the cam chain tensioner prior to rechecking valve clearance. Would this make the difference?

[JimDirt]

For the clearance itself , no , as long as the cam marks are level across the head , it should be aligned to give the correct lash (providing the Cam Tower is snugged down sufficiently)