Hey guys I read an awsome article. In the october issue of CAR CRAFT they test out CompCams Beehive valve springs. They say that with the conical design and the way the the i guess its the retainer on the top of the spring is designed you can run up to .550 lift on the vortec heads with no machineing. They are just a little more expensive then normal springs. Now I don't know if I read this rigth or what but I think thats awsome and I am curious if anyone knows anything about this? thanks

 

I'd have to see it to believe it.
Could have been .100" longer valves.
The stock vortec guide/seal to retainer clearance at full lift is only one issue.
The inner guide boss/ spring seat diameter will not fit most performace springs. Needs to be reduced.
K-motion k-700's fit but they suck.

The new Beehive shaped stuff (Ls-1) is pricey too.

Plan on checking dimentions and clearances and getting the guides machined. Its not a big deal.
You can buy the tool and do it your self with a electric drill.
Anything worth doing, is worth doing right.

 

I checked the retainer-to-seal clearance on the 062 Vortecs I have. With the stock retainers & stock valve seals, and moving the valve UP & DOWN with a dial guage above it, I got .540" of lift.

Of course you have to allow for clearance, and if we use .040", that leaves .500" of lift available.

The OD on my valve guide bosses are .860". I bought Comp Cams 981-16 single springs w/ damper that have an ID of .880" and they're good to .490" lift with .050" clearance before coil bind.

The cam I'm running is .480" on the intake and exhaust, so I'm right there.

I don't know how I'd feel about those conical springs. I suppose they'd be OK, but like F-Bird said, I'd rather have the pockets enlarged and run bigger springs if I was going with a .550" lift cam.

 

any chance you got a part # for the springs, or could you scan the article?