WEll, I started tearin the motor down today, went out to the autostore to pick up a few things I forgot and my brother had the top of the motor off, and lifters and such out.
We got the new cam in.
Now here's the ??s
I got new springs, but right now it's just too much work. So we're going to wait till next summer to put them on when I do head work or get new heads. I will most likely only put about 2k miles on the engine by then. You guys think these stock springs will hold up ok?
And, my brother is getting me Summit Roller Rockers. How much HP do you think I'll gain just from them?

 

What are the cam specs? I wouldn't trust stock springs to any aftermarket cam. I would change them, if time is not a constraint, why not...

I dunno exactly how much hp roller rockers gave me but the throttle response I picked up was incredible.

 

Cam specs are 477/480. I know how important the springs will be for longevity, but I want to be able to hold off till nex summer on them. Like I said I may not even put 2k miles on the motor. It's not my DD anymore. I'll be off at college for the fall/spring semester. I just want to be able to enjoy it a little this summer and next summer work the heads.
My brother said he's used stock springs before on 350s and 400s without problems.

 

Unless you have a worn drivetrain you probably wont need the springs for a while. Don’t get me wrong the stronger springs are nice to have and stock springs tend to get weak with a higher lift cam but you probably wont run into any issues. For a while I was running the 350 in my old camaro with stock springs and a 270H cam, I didn’t even notice a difference when I changed to the correct double springs either but its always best to follow manufacturers recommendations.

 

Maybe if you're lucky, one of the stock garbage piles won't break between now and then, and drop a valve into a cylinder... and maybe if you're even luckier, while they were rolling down the assembly line getting stuff done to them, their installed height won't be on the shy side of specs, and you'll escape without wiping out a cam lobe or pulling studs...

It's not the sort of thing where you can necessarily "tell a difference". The motor may run fine initially, but fail catastrophically at any time. That's more the usal thing with inadequate valve springs.

Not a smart decision. With it being as little work as it is while the motor is in the state it's already in, there's no better time to do it than now. Buy a piece of rope and "rent" a spring compressor, and spend the 30 minutes or so. On top of the time of a cam swap that's nothing in exchange for peace of mind, not planting a bomb that you are obligated to go back later and defuse before you blow yourself up, etc.

 

what rb said

compared to a cam swap how could changing valve springs be "too much work" you're being foolish to not swap springs and the rockers won't gain you a whole lot. i wouldn't ru naluminum pieces on the street.

 

I am not aware that there is any difference otherwise. I have also seen factory 350s with stock 090 cams rev to 6000 no problem. But, these were fresh motors.

After a 350 gets 30K miles on it the springs soften quite a bit.

Considering the lift is about the same as most stock springs can handle, I would say its feasible.

Now, having said all that.. you can buy a valve spring compressor that screws on the stud for as little as 45bucks. I would just bite the bullet and do it now.

 

Well, I was thinking I'll probably only put about 500 miles on the car by next summer. Cause I don't even drive it now as it is, besides the motor being torn apart. The back springs for the 2,4,6,8 cylinders will be a pain in the butt. Them headers don't make things easy.

And the springs only have 12k miles or so on them.
Hopefully you guys are wrong and I'll be ok till then.
ede, they're not aluminum roller rockers, they're the steel summit brand.

 

Mark,
If it were me, I would just pull the heads off to change the springs and have some screw in studs installed also..Like RB says,it could turn into a mess if you drop a valve...$$$$$$$$$$$

 

Make sure you can open the valve at least another .040 past the max lift if you plan on leaving stock springs in there. Otherwise, you'll be causing more damage to fix later.

 

Actually, IMO the stock springs will be ok for a while if they only have 12K on them. I say this because I had an SLP cam with slightly more lift, .480/.487, and SLP actually said that stock springs would work fine with the cam, as long as the springs didn't have an excess of miles on them. I actually ran my stock springs for about 10K with the cam, and my springs had more than 100K on them. Although I really wouldnt recommend that.

 

I am no expert on this for sure , I have never even done this before.But I just ordered a cam for my car and also new springs,why is it such a pain that you are actually considering waiting until next year to change the springs? My cam swap started as a leaking intake manifold gasket repair and I figured while I was in there , make it worth it since the intake will be off. I certainly dont want to do this again! It's not going to be no weekend project, AFPR,headers,polished & ported plenum,timing chain & gears and cam and springs.Just wondering what is the hassle with the springs?BTW, the springs I am using are just stock replacments.

 

wait wait wait....back the truck up. Did you say (ede) that aluminum rockers aren't good for the street?? Huh, didn't crane supply their gold aluminum rockers to chevy to install on LT4's and such?? Don't many newer cars have aluminum rockers factory?? Sorry just doesnt' make sense. I've been running aluminum for quite a while, hold up fine to daily abuse in 110 degree weather. And you WILL notice a difference if they are high quality FULL roller rockers, even stock ratios, mainly because stock rockers are just way off. I went from stock 1.5's to Comp Magnum 1.6s on the camaro and it was a HUGE difference, I **** you not.

 

and on your spring issue, .480 lift (is it an extreme energy 268 cam by chance?) is OK, but I wouldn't be ragging on that car or revving it to the moon a whole lot. The springs on my firebird were starting to get REALLY weak and the motor would just dog out past 4,500 towards the end before I put in the new heads. Your should be fine for 2K miles of driving I'd say though.

 

Yeah I don't plan on ******* the motor. The redline on this motor is 5200 rpms, so I doubt I take it that high too often.