What diameter spring are on the Vortec heads? I want to put a cam that that has more than .450 in my engine, but SDPC says that the heads were not set up for that. What diameter springs would be good for the Comp Cams XE268H cam (.477/.480 Lift 268/280 duration)and would I have to get the heads machined for it? Thanks!

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1986 IROC LG4 "Bone Stock" (for now)

 

This comes up alot with those heads...

The springs aren't the limit. You can put any springs in the world on there and still only accomodate .450" of lift. The limit is the guides. The bottom of the retainers hits the top of the guide bosses. However, to get past .450" of lift, it would be smart to hange them; and I would say necessary if you want to use that cam.

Kind of makes those heads a little less appealing as a true performance piece. Keep in mind, they aren't designed or marketed as such, but rather as a replacement truck head.

So, you will need machine work. You won't need to machine the spring pockets though, only the guides.

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"So many Mustangs, so little time..."
ICON Motorsports

 

For what it's worth I know half a dozen people running that cam w/ stock Vortecs and having no problems.

I'm running the next smaller XE cam, w/ .462/.469 lift on mine w/ no troubles.

The rated limit is .450, although Scoggin Dickey I think it was said they will all handle .480 just fine, you would want to double check anything over that for boss/retainer clearance for sure though.

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Ray87Z
-Vortec headed 350.
86 IROC w/ a cammed 305 TPI.
Formerly Ray86IROC.
www.inter-scape.com/Ray

 

I have those heads and that cam - I got springs from sdpc that accomodate .500" lift, just call them and ask. However, I think I'm going to pull the heads and get cc recommended springs which I "think" are larger diameter so it will require machine work on the heads - and get screw in rocker studs installed while at it. There seems to be a lot more to a spring the bind height.