Several years ago I purchased one of the early vortec tpi crate motors from Scoggin-Dickey. The "Z-28" valve springs that were provided on their modified heads on that motor were crap, the first time I ran the car I broke three valve springs. I replaced the broken springs. Then I broke another spring and bent a valve. After that I changed over to crane Part Number: 10309-1 which included spring number 99845 and retainer 99914. After that I drove the car several thousand miles after which I broke one of those springs! After that I replaced the heads with edelbrock e-tec heads. Problem Fixed!
I want to run those vortec heads on another small block with another LT4 Hot cam. Now the Hot Cam ain't that big of a cam, what should I do? I have been advised by some to source LT4 springs, others have said comp cams new beehive springs are a bolt on for the iorn vortec heads and are the hot ticket. Any Ideas on what I should run for a durable valve train? Anyone with similar expieriences with socggin-dickey modified vortec heads? Those running modified vortecs and .500 or bigger lift cams what do you have for valvesprings?

 

26918 behives from comp cams. They are costly but worth it. I went through the same crap with sdpc modified heads and springs.

 

Lots of people reporting busted springs on older SDPC upgraded heads- you're not alone.

But man, I don't know what you did to break a 99845 tool steel spring (it's the same spring as the 99846 but with the dampener removed). That is, however, about the strongest stock diameter spring you can buy off the shelf. I've used them myself twice, one in a racing application with Vortecs (no problems to report). I'd definitely check your installed height if you plan on using the the same type of springs agin. Those springs are really desigined for a 1.75-1.80" installed height, which is a little more than you usually get with stock length valves and typical aftermarket 1.25" diameter retainers. With the stock Vortec retainers you would be even shorter than that. I ended up using +.050" locks on my Vortecs with those same springs and a set of retainers that are probably almost the same as your 99914s to hit and installed height of just slightly over 1.75".

In short, it took a bit of work to get the installed height tall enough. If you didn't go to the trouble I'll amost guarantee your installed height was too short and you put the spring under more strain than it should have been, shorting it's life.

There's nothing wrong with the 99845/99846 springs that I have found.

 

I'm running the Z-28 springs on my Vortecs from Scoggin-Dickey. They have a few different Z-28 springs with varying seat pressures...depends on when you purchased the heads.

 

It is very likely that those "Z28" springs were in fact K-MOTION K-700 Springs. These springs were one of few that would drop on a vortec head without machining Dirt cheap too.. Looked like a good deal. SDPC, me a lots of others got sucked into that one. The springs were junk. I broke lots of them with a very mild cam (.442-.465" lift). Changed over to some Pioneer brand (Elgin) high pressure stock diameter springs and have not had a hint of trouble since.
used them to 7000rpm and .560" lift. Currently at .510" valve lift and still in service in my 406.

have no direct experience with those Crane springs.

recomend the Pioneers( Elgin) , Isky 235D, Manley22410 and Lunati 73943
The Comp Ovate wire Beehive springs are hot. They're on my Wish List.

I have used the Genuine GM "Z28" off road springs ('60's era) before (back in the day) and never had a failure or even wore one out.
back in the day of 104 octane Leaded pump gas, Bias ply tires, real motors had 11:1 compression minimum and solid lifter cams ..

 

hey guys-

Thanks, for all the imput. Those crappy scoggin-dickey springs sure seem to have caused some grief! Sounds like I need to check the installed height on the comp cams springs I have installed now, and barring that the beehive springs are looking good, it just sucks having to keep re-purchasing the same parts