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valve spring installed height

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Old Nov 25, 2000 | 09:00 PM
  #1  
ede's Avatar
ede
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From: Jackson County
valve spring installed height

my springs are suspose to have an installed height of 1.850. most of the intakes run around 1.95 and the exhaust at 2.050. that makes for .2 in shims. that seems a little much to me. any thoughts or ideas? thanks

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Old Nov 25, 2000 | 09:53 PM
  #2  
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Ed,

If my memeory is correct, most of my SBC springs install at 1.71" height. If you measure the spring only (not the retainer height) the stock intakes are 1.71" or 1.745". Going to 1.85" springs should require longer valve stems and/or deeper spring seats.

I could be off, though. It is a little cloudy tonight...

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Old Nov 25, 2000 | 11:28 PM
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From: 51°N 114°W, 3500'
Car: 87 IROC L98
Engine: 588 Alcohol BBC
Transmission: Powerglide
Axle/Gears: Ford 9"/31 spline spool/4.86
.2 is almost a 1/4". That's alot. I can only come up with suggestions. The spring manufactures installed height is recommended for best spring performance. Too tight and spring bind can occur. Too much installed height and seat pressure is decreased. The springs themselves won't affect the installed height so any number of these choices can be the problem.

Measuring from the wrong location as mentioned by Vader
Seats are cut too low
Valves are too long
Wrong keepers (You can change installed height by just changing the keepers) This is usually done when installed height is too low and you need to raise it. It's possible you have these raised height keepers.

Also make sure the keepers and retainers have the same angle. 7 and 10 degrees angles are available. I don't know if they can be mixed but if 7 degree keepers are used with 10 degree retainers, I suppose it could give a false installed height. (Also a good way to drop a valve)



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Old Nov 26, 2000 | 08:37 AM
  #4  
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From: Jackson County
as always i tend to try to save on my typing. the springs are lunati 1.5 dia. lunati says to install then at 1.85. useing lunati retainers, no rotator or any stock parts i'd have to shim over .2 on the exhaust. i was wondering if there is a retainer made to reduce installed height or something else so i don't have to shim so much. the springs i'm useing are the ones lunati recommends for my cam. if you can't tell i'm a die hard lunati user.

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Old Nov 26, 2000 | 08:40 AM
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From: Jackson County
i should add i'm useing stock height manley pro flow valves. since they're stock height that shouldn't really change anything, but i thought it was worth saying,just in case.

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Old Nov 26, 2000 | 09:42 AM
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New valves...

Take one of your new valves and set it beside an old one, make sure they are the same height and have the keeper groove in the same place. Something makes me think its different.
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Old Nov 26, 2000 | 10:00 AM
  #7  
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Ed,

All Lunati should be a good thing. The components should be designed to work together well - no guesswork. If the Manley valves are Race-Flo 11565/11566, they should be at stock height for the grooves.

Your extra information helps - since you aren't installing rotators, the spring height would be increased on the exhaust side. The lack of spring oil shields would also allow a bit more installed height on both sides.

I take it this is all on the six-cylinder 350, whick has a stock installed height spec of 1.69" - 1.71" on both valves.

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Old Nov 26, 2000 | 11:50 AM
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From: Jackson County
damn vader about spit my coke all over the monitor, 6 cylinder 350. yeah it is the 6 cylinder 350. i try not to say that too much because of all the flames i get for running a six. thanks for the help everyone. i'll make a few phone calls and see if i can find anything else out about my set up.

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