wanted to check my valve springs for coil bind while they are installed on the car. I read online that I should have between .060 and .100 between the coils of my valve springs with the valve fully open, just a little confused. Does that .060-.100 have to be between every coil on the valve spring or do I add up the distance between every coil to get that number??? thanks... Also can coil bind cause valve guides to fail prematurely??

 

You measure the travel difference. If your lift is .550", you should have at least .610" from closed to coil bind.

 

forget my coil bind idea as to why my valve guides went. I was thinking the duel spring my enging buider used had to little lift for my 280XFI 230/236 576 571. But after pulling a valve cover and bumping a valve all the way open it still had alot of space between 3 coils. I know comp suggested the 26986-16 behive springs but I asked them if the 987 spring I have are good and they said they were fine for the 280XFI. The 987 are good to .600 lift. So I guess ill keep wondering why my guides went bad and hope it doesnt happen again.

 

You cant just use the spring spec to know if there is clearance or not. Physically impossible. You need to measure on your parts. There are differences in one head from the next, due to variances in parts, machine work (like seats having been cut or not), shims under the springs, the retainers and locks used. No way to know for certain without checking what you have.