Valve Springs
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,558
Likes: 4
From: Oakland California
Valve Springs
Anybody tried the Elgin Z28 valve springs? And can I use the stock retainers that are on the Vette right now with the springs? They say that they are good for a .550" lift, but I'm not going that far. I'm thinking about going with a cam in the .465"/.488" lift range. What do you guys think?
Race Director
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 10,956
Likes: 409
From: California
OK... Knowing I may regret this
not knowing your exact cam, and what exactly you are looking for.... but with that lift and even up to .55 aprox, I would suggest and recommend the Beehives from comp cam....
Read this, a friend posted it once..
http://www.enginebuildermag.com/Arti...er_spring.aspx
Now others will chime in with differing opinions, but I can attest to over a 50hp gain when I went to them....
not knowing your exact cam, and what exactly you are looking for.... but with that lift and even up to .55 aprox, I would suggest and recommend the Beehives from comp cam....
Read this, a friend posted it once..
http://www.enginebuildermag.com/Arti...er_spring.aspx
Now others will chime in with differing opinions, but I can attest to over a 50hp gain when I went to them....
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
weight of last valve should say titanium not steel
and then at the end the valve spring has Open Lbs. 4308 @ 1.2"
I've read his book and he comes up with bogus answers.
Last edited by gkull; Mar 29, 2010 at 10:50 AM.
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 10,674
Likes: 122
From: Millington Illinois
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
I have had issues with some of Vizard's views in the past. Some of what he has written, especially 30 years ago is suspect now that we all have more knowledge available. Don't use the Z28 springs. 2 options for you.
1. Use the exact spring the manufacturer specs for your cam at the correct installed height.
2. Go with beehive springs that are the correct replacement for the springs your cam manufacturer recommends for your cam.
As you can see there are advantages to Beehives. I think street lift hydraulic cams will benefit the most due to weight reduction and being able to reduce sping pressure on the lifer internals and lobe kifter interface and still control the valvetrain. GM thought so also. They use Beehives on the LS7 and it is not because they are cheaper to manufacture. If they are spending the $ on titanium rods they are not cutting corners on valve springs. GM has used beehives on all their LS engines since 1997. Research, do your homework, make an educated decision.
1. Use the exact spring the manufacturer specs for your cam at the correct installed height.
2. Go with beehive springs that are the correct replacement for the springs your cam manufacturer recommends for your cam.
As you can see there are advantages to Beehives. I think street lift hydraulic cams will benefit the most due to weight reduction and being able to reduce sping pressure on the lifer internals and lobe kifter interface and still control the valvetrain. GM thought so also. They use Beehives on the LS7 and it is not because they are cheaper to manufacture. If they are spending the $ on titanium rods they are not cutting corners on valve springs. GM has used beehives on all their LS engines since 1997. Research, do your homework, make an educated decision.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,558
Likes: 4
From: Oakland California
I have had issues with some of Vizard's views in the past. Some of what he has written, especially 30 years ago is suspect now that we all have more knowledge available. Don't use the Z28 springs. 2 options for you.
1. Use the exact spring the manufacturer specs for your cam at the correct installed height.
2. Go with beehive springs that are the correct replacement for the springs your cam manufacturer recommends for your cam.
As you can see there are advantages to Beehives. I think street lift hydraulic cams will benefit the most due to weight reduction and being able to reduce sping pressure on the lifer internals and lobe kifter interface and still control the valvetrain. GM thought so also. They use Beehives on the LS7 and it is not because they are cheaper to manufacture. If they are spending the $ on titanium rods they are not cutting corners on valve springs. GM has used beehives on all their LS engines since 1997. Research, do your homework, make an educated decision.
1. Use the exact spring the manufacturer specs for your cam at the correct installed height.
2. Go with beehive springs that are the correct replacement for the springs your cam manufacturer recommends for your cam.
As you can see there are advantages to Beehives. I think street lift hydraulic cams will benefit the most due to weight reduction and being able to reduce sping pressure on the lifer internals and lobe kifter interface and still control the valvetrain. GM thought so also. They use Beehives on the LS7 and it is not because they are cheaper to manufacture. If they are spending the $ on titanium rods they are not cutting corners on valve springs. GM has used beehives on all their LS engines since 1997. Research, do your homework, make an educated decision.
. I'm going to look into a set of beehive springs
.
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Race Director
Joined: May 2003
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From: California
Pro
Joined: May 2003
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From: London England
I think Dave Vizard is a very knowledgeable guy, I have some of his books and would agree that some of the content is a bit dated but at the time of writing was some of the best reference material available.
Where I would cast a doubt, is on any 'expert' that writes for a major magazine.
Ask yourself the last time you read a tuning magazine article where the author describe a product from a major advertiser as 'not worth the money' or 'offers little over existing products', the just don't.
'Experts' make their money from magazines, magazines make their money from advertisers, advertisers make their money from you and me. Why would anybody bite the hand that feeds them.
Where I would cast a doubt, is on any 'expert' that writes for a major magazine.
Ask yourself the last time you read a tuning magazine article where the author describe a product from a major advertiser as 'not worth the money' or 'offers little over existing products', the just don't.
'Experts' make their money from magazines, magazines make their money from advertisers, advertisers make their money from you and me. Why would anybody bite the hand that feeds them.
