When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
ok they bind up at around 1.18 or 1 and 3/16 because i was actually using a small tape measure so this should work right? THe people said these were stock replacement springs.
does this mean I can just change the retainers to 11/32 non rotators and re assemble this thing, also will running straight headers for my cam break in and about 2 days until i get a noise pollution ticket cause me any problems? i installed headers the other day but I dont have a way to bolt it up to the old exhaust system yet.
Did you measure valve closed height to verify the manufacturer's spec?
If you measured coil bind height correctly, and if the installed height is 1.820" (manufacturer's spec and OEM spec), then you have 0.640" clearance. That should be plenty for your cam.
Just change out the rotating retainers on the exhaust valve springs and you should be good to go.
Get yourself a cheap set of dial calipers with a depth gauge so you can verify the correct lifter preload and save the cost of another set of pushrods.
Ok so i called like 8 places today and only 3 or so even know what i was looking for and of course did not have it.
i talked a machinist i know and he told me something about retainers coming in over and under sizes etc.
my engine is the 1978 model and it originally had the rotator type exhaust retainers and I assume springs. when i bought the springs they were all the same type so there fore are not for the rotators correct.
so now I need non rotator retainers. I installed one of the intake retainers on the exhaust and the keeper went in deep in the retainer hole, so I cant use the stock retainers or what is there a special type i need? i am confused as can be here can someone help me?
dustinleavitt2000
If they are 78 heads then you should have Multi groove valve stems locks on the intake requiring 3/8” retainers and single groove valve stems locks on the exhaust requiring 11/32’ retainers.
The original springs would have been different length to accommodate the rotator and could not be used.
Now take bubbaf250’s advice with these heads. Measure your clearance for the lift of the cam plus .060 for safety. Also pay attention to the thickness of the valve seal you are going to use.
ok well i have the 1977 valve springs because since that was the model year of the car i assumed it was the model year for the engine but I was wrong. now is it possible for me to get the retainers for the intake and find 3/8's single keepers and just go that route?
So the valve stems are Multi Groove??
And the springs had rotators on the exhaust?
Put the intake and exhaust side by side. You should be able to see the .125 difference in height. If so, I wouldn't use them.
Well I stand corrected.. I just compared two of them and cannot see much difference.
The book I have does say that the LBS at the 1.68 assembled height ( W/Rotators ) is 79-87. If you install them ( Exhaust ) with crane retainers at the assembled height it will be some where around 1.8x. At least that is what I just measured on our spare heads.
That would mean a much lower seat pressure.
The only way to be sure is have them tested for the correct pressure at assembled height and at the open check height.