Hvymtlc5

Can I use my stock LS1 retainers and locks with Comp Cams (or any other mfgr) beehive type springs?? Or, are they vendor specific?

vettenuts

They should not be a loose fit, but many re-use stock. The steel will hold up better on the street.

itzza427

I would say NO!!The Whole concept of the bee hive springs is that there is that the spring diameter tapers to a noticeably smaller diameter at the top.The two main reasons is to reduce harmonics at higher RPM and to reduce reciprocating mass at the tip,,which is mainly comprised of the retainers and locks. From what I remember reading this smaller size acts similar to replacing stock retainers with titanium pieces at a much smaller price! Stock probably wouldn't fit on beehives anyhow.

FKING1

Stocks will fit on beehives. Have one on my 2000. Would recommend titanium though. I just replaced one broken comp Cam spring, non beehive.

vettenuts

Stock springs are beehives, not sure I understand.

Hvymtlc5

Was told to just buyt the Comp springs and use the stock steel retainers and locks...since there was a conflict with info found on this subject....I put it here...and we seem to have a conflict too on agreeing if the stocks can be used.

mvvette97

Yes you can use the stock locks and retainers with the behive springs like the comp 918 or pac. Though I will never use comp 918s again in my life. My engine could of be trashed because of the 918s. I was lucky and caught it in time. 8 out of 16 broken spring and comp even admited it was the spring.

Casem1

This was an issue at one point, when did you buy these springs?

I have been using comp 918s for over 3 years. 1 year with stock retainers and the rest with Ti retainers. These springs see 6800 RPM on the track frequently and I have had no issues at all. Edelbrock/Lingenfelter even uses them on their heads, that is all the R&D I need. Also, the edelbrock heads have Ti retainers fwiw.

vettenuts

There are several beehives out there. My personal favorites is the PSI 1511ML, but not sure on stock retainers with them. Second, in my opinion, would be the PAC 1518 followed by the PAC 1218. PAC used to make the Comp 918's until they switched vendors (and ran into problems). The PAC 1218 is the equivalent to the original good Comp 918. The 1518's have additonal surface treatment for longer life.

0Jon@Texas-Speed

With a Comp 918 spring, you CAN use the factory retainers and locks.

The issues Comp had with the springs has been resolved with a completely new spring. It has been well over a year since we have seen an issue with the 918's. I wouldn't sweat it at all putting one on my car. Let me know if you have any other questions!

Jon
Texas Speed & Performance

midyearvette

anyone remember when the first bee hives were introduced and by whom??.................the first time i saw them was on a 59 olds 392 engine...pretty cool

vettenuts

That's what I was told older guys remember

itzza427

OOPS! Kind of new to the Gen III ,,,Was unaware that they were already Beehive!!My bad!!Just assumed they were standard,,,and you know what happens when you do that!! Learning something new here all the time!!Sorry!!

vettenuts

No problem, that's how we all learn.

Last C5

Comp doesn't make their own springs. They buy from who ever will make the springs for them at the lowest price. This is why you never know whether your getting a good set of springs from Comp or, as has happened often in the past, a set that will fail on you. Comp always replaces the spring sets when they get a bad batch, but that doesn't replace the time, money, and aggravation you spend. Buy a set of PACs and go racing.