Valve spring seat question- picture
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,625
Likes: 1
From: Rhode Island
F11 cam, Valve spring seat question- picture
I have a Futral F11 cam. This is one of the valve spring seats and shims that came with my Manley dual springs from Futral. Does anyone know what the purpose of the shim is? Is it necessary?
Last edited by Rhode Warrior; Jan 10, 2006 at 08:42 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,625
Likes: 1
From: Rhode Island
Originally Posted by JoeyG
Do you have hardened spring seats already? If not the shim could be for a spring seat base, or to acheive the proper preload.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 822
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From: Grafton Ohio
How many shims came with the kit? What is the recommended installed spring height? They could also be used to achieve proper seat pressure according to your cam. Just a few things to consider.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,625
Likes: 1
From: Rhode Island
Originally Posted by jers98vet
How many shims came with the kit? What is the recommended installed spring height? They could also be used to achieve proper seat pressure according to your cam. Just a few things to consider.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 822
Likes: 0
From: Grafton Ohio
I cant say for sure where to put the shims on an lsx head, but on my old school big block I'd shim the spring between the top of the spring and the retainer.
You could try to install one spring without the shim and check the spring pressure. If the pressure is adequate for the cam you are running then I'd say you're fine without them.
You could try to install one spring without the shim and check the spring pressure. If the pressure is adequate for the cam you are running then I'd say you're fine without them.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 822
Likes: 0
From: Grafton Ohio
Originally Posted by JoeyG
Do you have hardened spring seats already? If not the shim could be for a spring seat base, or to acheive the proper preload.
I just read this post again and you may indeed have to use the shim in between the seat and spring to reduce wear on the bottom of the seat. In any case, good idea to at least measure seat pressure when installed so as not to cause premature wear on the cam/lifters.
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Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: bloomfield nj
the shim is to adjust valve spring installed height[for example,early ls6 motors used them,late ones don't,i think].you may/may not need them[look at info that came with kit].shims are usually used after a valve job[where seats/valves are reground]to reset installed spring height.stock spring height on a ls6 head is 1.82 in.on a ls1 head it may be different,you'll have to get the spec,once again look at your info,it should say something,if not call the spring/cam company.if the installed height is supposed to be stock,you'll have to get it,assemble the heads and measure installed height.that will dictate the shim.if you have a shim originally,you'll probably need to replace them with the new ones as long as they are the same thickness
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,625
Likes: 1
From: Rhode Island
Originally Posted by dpd
the shim is to adjust valve spring installed height[for example,early ls6 motors used them,late ones don't,i think].you may/may not need them[look at info that came with kit].shims are usually used after a valve job[where seats/valves are reground]to reset installed spring height.stock spring height on a ls6 head is 1.82 in.on a ls1 head it may be different,you'll have to get the spec,once again look at your info,it should say something,if not call the spring/cam company.if the installed height is supposed to be stock,you'll have to get it,assemble the heads and measure installed height.that will dictate the shim.if you have a shim originally,you'll probably need to replace them with the new ones as long as they are the same thickness
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
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From: At the beach in little Rhody
You not only need to know it, you need to measure it. Find out what Futral recommends for seat pressure, very important to prevent valve bounce on an aggressive cam. Then you need to install to that seat pressure. 130-140# for the LS1 was recommended to me by a very "in the know" person who consults to the racing industry.
