I rebuilt my '79 460 four years ago. It put in a Comp XE262H cam and the rest of the valve train was new but stock. Up till now it has always ran awesome. The shift kit I had in the trans had the engine shifting at 4900-5000 RPMS at WOT and I never had any troubles. Now I have a new shift kit and it wants to shift at a higher RPM. My 460 will NOT rev past 5000 RPMS because the valves start to float. I think I need some stiffer valve springs. I found these springs, CompCams (926-16) which are recommended at their website. Will these work for me? I want it to rev to about 5500 RPMS. What other parts do I need to go with the new springs, or will the new springs work with my stock retainers/ locks, etc. Thanks.

 

I suggest using the springs they recommend unless you know what specs to buy on some other brand. Comps springs aren't bad so would use those.

But I don't have my book in front of me with the stock diameter of the springs used on 460s but it seems those are slightly larger outside diamter and will need to hav new retainers.

 

They are the springs that the Comp web page recommends with my cam, without having to machine the heads. I'll give their tech line a call tomorrow and confirm. I'll also see what else I need to go with the new springs. Maybe it's time for roller tip or full roller rockers?! I'm not sure if they're really necessary at my power/ RPM level.

 

Don't waste your money on roller tip rockers.Get full rollers with the roller on the fulcrum as well as the rocker tip.The fulcrum is where the parasitic friction loss is greatest.Car Craft did a test a few years ago on a 460 and found that full roller rockers were only a benefit(power wise) with higher lift cams around 560" lift.The other benefit is that full rollers are much more rigid and provide consistent rocker ratios.

 

I have the XE262H cam and was thinking about putting it in my truck but i might sell it and get a Comp 4x4 270 cam instead. How do you like your XE262H, does it pull hard all the way till your valves float and how is the idle on it, i know this is off topic but i want to hear from someone running this cam

 

I called the Comp Cams tech support line. I was surprised, I got a live person right away instead of 15 minutes of being on hold. They confirmed the same springs that their web page recommended, along with matching retainers and locks. I'm watching a complete kit on e-bay right now.
My cam has a little over .500 lift, so I don't think roller rockers will make much of a difference.

As far as how do I like my cam, I think it works great in my truck. It's still pulling when the tach hits 5000 RPM. It pulls hardest between 2500-4000. When I first start it cold, the idle is rough, it sounds awesome through my flowmasters. Once it warms up, it has a little bit of lumpity lump, but idles fine around 900 RPM in park, 550 RPM in gear. I also have a 2200 stall converter though, so that probably helps the idle in gear. I don't have to "two-foot" the pedals. Hope this helps.

 

Stock springs are around 1.39" o.d. And around .99" ID at 1.82" installed height. Seat of D3's will accept an o.d. Of about 1.50"...fyi