355sleeper

iTrader: (4)

i bought alex parts spring and retainer kit. it came with, springs, retainers, and 7 degree locks. i also purchased the viton seals to go with them. these are the springs that are supposed to give you up to .550 lift clearance. while the machine shop has my heads i will have them pin the studs and cut the guides down. i will ask them to let me know what the clearance is to see if the .550 is accurate.

many people say that alex parts retainers used the "ghetto grind" method, the retainers are machined down. but they look awesome. everything was packaged very well. it all looks very well done.

i will let you all know how they work after they are installed and what the actual clearance is.

thought id do a review since i have yet to find one.

355sleeper

iTrader: (4)

spring rates

zenish

subscribed.,

CAMAROSKI

Subscribed too. i was looking at this kit on ebay for my vortec heads but i was not sure about quality. Sounds like i might to go with that kit too.I plan to use lt4 hot cam kit with 1.6 RR.What cam are you going to put in ?

355sleeper

iTrader: (4)

im using the lunati 60103 flat tappet with 1.52 rockers.

InfernalVortex

iTrader: (4)

Im not seeing where the machining is done on the retainers... I see the machining, I just cant quite make sense of it since it seems the machining is done on a portion of the retainer that is clearly unmachined in the one next to it. Can you get a better picture of that?

355sleeper

iTrader: (4)

its only on the tops of them, i thought the "ghetto grind" was on the bottom of the retainer. unles he does it to the top, moving it up?

GreggymacZ28

I have bought these as well, and are installed in my engine with comp cams, with a lift of .520/.540 and a duration of 236/242 and they are working great. Alex's parts were great to deal with, he emailed me(within 6 minutes of me purchasing them) to make sure everything was perfect on my setup before he sent the parts out to me.

They do grind the retainers, thats how they get you their clearance, but they also raise the valve locks, in which on the little grooves inside of them they are raised higher than the normal ones. I'm sure you will see it 355 sleeper as soon as you get in to your build.

These are very good springs, and i honestly am shocked that they havn't taken off for the price. But ive run them for 2 weeks now, i'll do another update at the track.

But on another note, you would want to purchase the shim kit from them, so you dont get into your build and realize you have to get some shims. they arent expensive and come in .030, .010, and .060.

I hope that helps some people!

355sleeper

iTrader: (4)

Im taking them to the machine shop to be put on when they cut the guides, so i dont have to deal with setting them up.

I agree, customer service was great, the only thing i have a complaint about is there payment method. I wanted to pay by credit card and you have to phone it in, i got voicemail and left a message. Alex personally called back and took all my info. A little of a hassle but it appears to be a great part

355sleeper

iTrader: (4)

took the heads to the machine shop. the retainers are not "ghetto ground".. the machine shop told me that the reason for machining the top of the retainers is to allow for roller rockers and to help take pressure off stem/seals. the springs are stiffer. the locks are hardened and STOCK height.

CAMAROSKI

How much machine shop charging you for head job and what you have done?
I going to order same parts and look for shop to have them installed.
Thanks.

355sleeper

iTrader: (4)

i asked them to pin the studs and my machine shop told me told not waste my money(guy is a good friend of mine, been taking stuff there for many years), so he is cutting the guides and installing the springs. cutting the guides is $30 and putting the springs back on couldnt be more than $20(have to take the springs off to cut the guides anyways). so id imagine it would only be $50 or so total

355sleeper

iTrader: (4)

got the heads back from the machine shop today

machinist said they were good for the full .550 lift, but if i were to go that big of lift to install screw in studs

CAMAROSKI

Thanks for clarifying the clearance and yes i plan to do screw in studs.

GreggymacZ28

Why wouldnt you just put the screw in studs in? Since your heads are already off, it would help for future projects.

Anyway i have the alexs parts springs installed now with my .520/.540 lift cam and the car really pulls now! Feels great! Havn't ran at the track yet, sadly.

355sleeper

iTrader: (4)

my machinist said the cam i have now, he wouldnt waste the money doing it on. if i step up to a bigger cam i will be getting a new set of heads, as vortecs dont flow as well as say afr 195's at .550 lift

GreggymacZ28

Vortecs flow really well to around .520. But they actually keep the same amount of flow till right before .550 and then they drop off. But Afr195's would be a better choice, just maybe not for the money!

355sleeper

iTrader: (4)

i agree, i paid 600 for new heads and 90 for springs, plus machine work. i have maybe 750 total for a set of well perfoming heads that can break 400hp. afrs are overpriced but, they are very nice heads, have a set of 227s and dont have any complaints about them

CAMAROSKI

I am trying to build the motor on budget too.I have been quoted by city motor supply in Dallas for job on vortec heads as $50 for cutting guides-pair,screw in studs $150-pair,$180 valve job-pair and $95 valves (stainless steel).I bought complete motor with heads for $400 and lt4 hot cam kit for $275.I hope to make over 300 hp.

355sleeper

iTrader: (4)

if you have a 350 then with that hot cam you will be over 350 at the crank

bigtizzles

I have this spring kit too. And he even gave me a killer deal on some stainless valves. The guy has great customer service. He recommended the Lunati 60103 for my set up with his spring kit. My motor isn't together yet, but I was wondering if anybody tried running the stock vortec rockers with this kit? If not, what rockers should I run? I'm new at this.

355sleeper

iTrader: (4)

you will need to run self aligning rockers, i am running the 60103 cam and havent driven it yet, should be able to get it out this weekend(weather permitting)

if you check out my other thread you can hear my idle video, i list all the specs in the video

bigtizzles

the stock vortec rockers are 1.5 self aligning. So have you tried to run stock rockers, or anybody else?

InfernalVortex

iTrader: (4)

That depends on a million other factors.