Valve Springs

[Thoroughbred]

Im curious as to what yall think about diff valve springs?
Right now I have a cam in my fox with complete stock heads (valve springs,rockers, pushrods..everything bone stock)
Lift is .510 and the stock springs have worked just great so far.

Instead of wasting gobs of money on heads..Im contemplating on changing springs and rockers.
So, is the Ford GT40 Valve train kit worth a crap? Or what about some Comp springs? Crane?
Also, whats a general good rocker to use? I was thinking of come cheapo crane's or something?

[HoustonLX]

The lift numbers generally are not what weakens valve springs. Its the ramp rates. How many miles are on the heads/valve springs you have now? If 100k+, I would really considering replacing. As far as brand, I can not comment on the GT-40 stuff. Only ones I have used in the past were Comp Cams. Even brand new, the springs on my old TFS TW heads could not handle the Bennett cam I was running and forced the upgrade. Even though the car never felt like it was suffering from valve float, the upgrade helped my car to pick up 3 mph and drop .4 in the 1/4. Just make sure to pick springs designed to work with the specs of your cam. To much seat preassure will cause the lifters to were quickly and to little will cause valve float.

[Thoroughbred]

I have actually had you in mind for doing this Shane. I remember how well ur car responded with ur old h/c package after u changed ur springs. I'm personaly not expecting the exact same results...just hoping for something maybee?

And Yea......the springs are around 100k'ish ...lol
What is this ramp rate that you speak of? Inquiring young minds have no idea what you are talking about. :hmm:

[Wild Stallion]

There is a limit to how much lift a stock spring can handle, that is about .480ish before coil bind becomes a hindrance and can actually cause the spring to break. I have run some modded E7s with 1.94 valves, Crower springs and locks (small block Chebby specs, I cut the valve seats out)with a Ecam and 1.7 rockers on a carbed 347 in a IMCA car with great results and came in under 300 bucks in mods.
I'd suggest new springs with ANY cam change from stock.
This is IMOHO and not to contradict anybody else.:blue:

[red95gts]

Stock springs are best suited for the little old lady who went into the Ford dealer looking for an Escort and drove out in a 5.0L thanks to the pushy sales guy. :D

That lift is pushing it on stock springs and any ramp steeper than stock will cause the springs to float. Bad thing about float is that it's VERY hard on springs. Every time they float, it weakens the spring and the next time it floats at a slightly lower rpm. Eventaully the spring will break.

What cam are you running? That's the first step to determining the valve spring requirements.

[Thoroughbred]

Originally posted by red95gts


What cam are you running? That's the first step to determining the valve spring requirements. [/B]
TFS Stage 1

[Dougstang]

Check out the TFS-2500100 kit here http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=TFS%2D2500200 (http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=TFS%2D2500200 ) It has the whole she-bang for $130 It says it's good for .542 of lift. The TFS stage 1 cam is listed at I-.499 E-.510 with a 1.6 rocker. With a 1.7 rocker the lift would be .541, so you would still be good.

Anybody tried the beehive springs that all of the magazines are talking about? They sound pretty interesting.

Doug

[Thoroughbred]

Yea, I was looking at that earlier on summit and I was like sweeeeeet price. TFS cam/TFS springs...have to work well together :) ...lol
Although I will be using 1.6's..I think that much lift just wont do anything on stock heads. (Using 1.7's and gettin .541 lift on the exhaust)

[TxBandit]

Originally posted by Dougstang


Anybody tried the beehive springs that all of the magazines are talking about? They sound pretty interesting.

Doug

You can bet that when it's time to get a new set of springs I'll be buying the beehive style. This technology has been around for about 2 years, but is just now becoming available for the common folk. There are a few production cars that are using them also. The main reason I am interested is because of weight. A steel beehive style retainer is considerably lighter than a typical titanium retainer. Less valvetrain weight means more usable RPM.

My $.02

Tyro

[maveRick]

"The absolute leader in valvetrain technology has broken all the rules again! COMP Cams® proudly introduces a truly special and technologically state-of-the-art beehive valve spring for flat tappet and hydraulic roller applications. Originally designed for Chevrolet big block hydraulic roller-equipped engines, the #26120 increases performance in a variety of applications requiring a 1.445-inch spring.

In recent testing using the new #26120 Beehive Valve Springs, we were able to take a hydraulic roller engine equipped with a COMP Cams® XE camshaft 1300 RPM higher than ever previously achieved. Increased revving capability and valve control are a result of reduced spring mass, varying wire pitch, and unique coil spacing of the beehive design. Additionally, the #26120 beehive springs were engineered to maximize “harmonic resistance,” which results in the ability to handle spring harmonics throughout a wide RPM range.

COMP Cams® new #26120 Beehive Valve Springs may look unconventional, but they also deliver unconventional performance. "

From http://www.compcams.com/information/whatsnew/NewsDetails.asp?ListHistoryID=-1373872784


more great info at their homepage, www.compcams.com

[Thoroughbred]

Think Ima go with the TFS...those comp springs look like a HAAS but I dont feel like putting that much $$ into springs.
Anyone have any good recomendations on rocker arms?

[TxBandit]

My vote goes to Harland Sharp. Nice quality pieces. I've used these in the past and have had no problems.

Troy

[Thoroughbred]

Originally posted by TxBandit
My vote goes to Harland Sharp. Nice quality pieces. I've used these in the past and have had no problems.

Troy
They got a website or anything?

[TxBandit]

http://www.harlandsharp.com/

[Timebomb]

I have a set of TFS heads that I'll be putting on the car this month and I also need to upgrade the springs with the cam I plan on running. I looked into the new beehive springs and it would cost me about $275 or so to change over to them as compaired to $90 for an upgrade to track heat springs. I think I'm going to save the money and just run the TFS springs.

I do have a set of used GT40 valve springs, retainers and keepers that I'd let go for $25. I didn't bother to use them when I ran my E cam because I wanted to run the 1.7 rockers. I upgraded the springs at the time just to be sure that I wouldn't have any problem with the added lift of the 1.7s. These GT40 springs have about 20K on them and should be fine with a 1.6 rocker, E cam and a E7 head.

Brent

[Thoroughbred]

Originally posted by TxBandit
http://www.harlandsharp.com/
Did u have stock valve covers when u used these?

[Haldanite]

I know this post is a little old but I was doing a search and this seems to be exactly what I was looking for. I have a set of 1.7 Cobra roller rockers, an e cam and stock E7 heads. The car has about 143K on the stock heads and I would like to install the rockers and cam but I don't understand enough about the cam's lift to determine what type of valve springs I need. Also, I've never done anything like this, can the springs be replaced without pulling the heads? Thanks.

[Haldanite]

I forgot to mention that this is in my 89 5.0 LX with MAC shorty headers, MAC O/R H-pipe, MAC CAI, ProM 73mm MAF, 65mm TB and EGR spacer, Trick Flow Track heat u/l intake. The car is an AOD with stock converter (looking into upgrading) and a shift kit with the stock 2.73 rear (have a 3.55 rear just need to swap). Thanks.

[red95gts]

From CraneCams' site: (Part # 444231)

Spring Requirements:
Part Number 99838

Loads:

Closed 110 LBS @ 1.688
Open 320 LBS @ 1.208

You can either order that part number from Crane or find a different spring/retainer/lock set that will meet the pressure requirements listed above...

I believe the TFS set listed above will meet those needs.....

Good Luck

[Otis!]

Kryptonite,

E7's, E-cam, and 1.7 Cobra's will work fine, and provide adequate P to V clearnance, but the stock springs (even when new) won't cut the mustard (I prefer cheese to cut...). You have a couple of choices: the recommended springs from Crane, which require a boat load of shims and seat machining (PITA), a set of Crane conicals that will drop right in, or the Summit TFS set. One of those three will get you there; you need to decide what is the easiest approach for you...

If you have an extra set of heads, you would be better off going through those, doing some mild bowl work/clean-up, and settting them up. If you know Ghetto, maybe he'll offer you the E7 cores that the ones he got from me replaced...

Otis!

Springs can be replaced on the car, but takes some patience. Also, I'd opt for a minimum 3.73 (prefer 4.10) for the AOD...

[Thoroughbred]

Havent been on in awhile...school crap swamped me...I bought the TFS springs and they work great. Some of the old ones were a pita to get off and it took awhile but was well worth it.
Throttle responce is head over heels better than what it was and the car pulls harder than what she used to. Im happy :angel: