Pointy cams in a Curvey...

[NedSVS]

Don't really agree with Blue_SV650S's comment

If you are putting new cams in you will HAVE to do the shims dude (I presume that is what you mean by 'buckets'?), the clearances will be all over the shot!!

When I did the K3 inlets and moved the original inlets to the exhaust side there was no measurable difference before and after on valve clearance. The cams are ground to such fine tolerances that this is not an issue at all. Also you are measuring the clearance at a point on the cam that gets no wear (as it doesn't run on the bucket because of the clearance). If the clearances are good before they will be good after. Just take special care to keep the buckets and shims in the original places, i.e. don't mix them up

[northwind]

You won't be nmoving the shims and buckets at all if the clearances are OK, no risk at all of them getting mixed up. There's a chance that it will need new shims, don't rule it out, but you're right that it might not be neccesary.

Originally Posted by NedSVS

Also you are measuring the clearance at a point on the cam that gets no wear (as it doesn't run on the bucket because of the clearance). If the clearances are good before they will be good after. Just take special care to keep the buckets and shims in the original places, i.e. don't mix them up

This is why the clearences are measured at this point as it is a constant, Its the valve seats that wear/bed in thus effecting clearences

And if swopping cams then why the need to remove the buckets at all