Anyone running these springs? Doing some spring shopping.


Yesterday I tore into my stuff, as I plan on replacing valve springs. Had isky's. Took a couple springs off, doing some measuring and checking. Didn't like the wear marks in the ID locators. Started looking further. Spring fit sloppy on the locator. The locator shoulder measured .680. Spring's inner ID, .740. It had a nice .060 clearance. Same story on the retainers. Looks like the springs may have been wandering around. Guess is pays once again, to take stuff apart yourself and check it.

I've had good luck with the isky's, but just looking around a bit.

Joe, Couple questions-

Did the spring wire exhibit loss of material on the ID? This would be seen by flattening of the inner profile and could be measured.

Did the springs display loss of rate, or signs of degradation/uneven pressure?

As an aside, 0.060" clearance is misleading in my opinion. You had 0.030" radial clearance.

No, just the spring digging into the base of the locator at this point. I have not removed all 32 springs yet, to see if any other damage was done.

Yes, I guess it technically is .030 radial clearance. Still quite a bit more than it should be. This is why certain springs, go with certain hardware.

Either way, I plan on replacing the springs as they are due for replacement, as they have been on there a while, as well as the hardware.

Ck with PAC springs, very high quality and they are manufacture, most are not

Joe if you're feeling bored I'd love to see how those springs' rates compare to their spec.

I do plan to have them checked. Im not as much worried about the effect that might have had on the springs pressures, as much as i am about the metal shavings from the springs eating away at the retainers and possibly the seals, (havent taken them all off yet), and the harmonics going on when at 6000rpm for long periods of time.

So far it seems like most guys who set up endurance stuff, like .005-.01 in this area .

Springs, retainers and locators need to be snug fit IMO. When the engine spends most of it's life near or at peak torque it makes these things all the more critical for longevity and reliability.
Manley Nextec are good springs. Isky Tool Room with the RAD treatment are good springs. Anything I use in these sorts of engines have some sort of endurance treatment like metalax or other stress relief treatments.

Does it look like it was floating the valves? Where the keys jammed in the retainer? Did it do it on both intake and exhaust?

Locks werent jammed, stems look good, lifters good, etc.

I have three sets of Isky 9905 tool room springs with a little less than 50 hours on them if you're interested. Too much spring pressure for my 525's.