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Old Jul 17, 2007 | 12:43 AM
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Default Stock valve spring question

Are 1997 - 2004 stock valve springs, retainers etc. the same ( interchangable) ?
I just hit my 275 shot of nitrous on the street and bent all my pushrods except 2 and my valvesprings are stock w/ 120,000 + miles on them. So, i think it's time to change them !!!
I want to know about "stock" valve springs only. I am trying for the fastest nitroused completly stock motored vette.
Thanks
btw-i have a 97 c5
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Old Jul 17, 2007 | 05:39 AM
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There have been a few different versions of the stock valve spring. If you want to stay with GM stock, I would consider the LS6 valve springs. They are slightly stiffer than the LS1 version and a set is around $55 form the forum GM parts vendors. I just rebuilt my stock heads using these springs.
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Old Jul 17, 2007 | 09:28 AM
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will my ls1 retainers and everything work with the ls6 valvesprings ?
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Old Jul 17, 2007 | 09:48 AM
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Yes, I swapped out my LS-1 springs this last winter after 148,xxx miles and went with the yellow LS-6/LS-2 springs. They've worked just fine with the LS-1 retainers, seats, etc.

BTW, spend the money to get the Crane Cams LS-1 valve spring compressor. I tried three different types of tools before I got this compressor; well worth the $120 or so it cost.

HTH, and have a good one,
Mike
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Old Jul 17, 2007 | 09:53 AM
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Thanks !!
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Old Jul 17, 2007 | 10:25 AM
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Are you revving past the stock redline? How the heck are you bending pushrods with stock rpms? I know springs get worn and won't follow the cam properly at high rpm, but I don't see how that can bend pushrods....just an observation.

If all your pushrods are bent, I'm guessing there was a "piston-valve event". Have you investigated your engine internals for damage?
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Old Jul 17, 2007 | 10:39 AM
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My car shift at 6200 rpm's. My rev limiter is set for 6500.
What happened was i hit the limiter manually shifting the car w/ my nitrous. I was testing some things... that's why i was manually shifting my A4
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Old Jul 17, 2007 | 10:45 AM
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wont a 275 shot of no2 burn a hole through your piston?
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Old Jul 17, 2007 | 11:07 AM
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Originally Posted by 123sugey
My car shift at 6200 rpm's. My rev limiter is set for 6500.
What happened was i hit the limiter manually shifting the car w/ my nitrous. I was testing some things... that's why i was manually shifting my A4
So you over-revved it and bent almost all your pushrods. Ok, I get that. So have you disassembled your motor to check for internal damage? It sounds like you haven't. Running a 275 shot with questionable internals sounds like a recipe for a big bang. Make sure no-one is around when that blows up. 275 shot is fun on a "good" motor to begin with...but one that has tapped most of the valves? Yee ha!

I guess you're trying to prove something by aiming for the "fastest stock motored vette" but I'd at least put some serious valve springs on there to protect the engine from over-revving situations. JMO.
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Old Jul 17, 2007 | 11:50 AM
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Well, i need to put stock springs in to keep it "stock".
I managed to burn up 2 tr6 plugs too. And of course, i had to break a spark plug wire taking it off !!
The 2 plugs that i burnt/melted were on the cylinders that had the worst bent pushrods.
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Old Jul 17, 2007 | 11:52 AM
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Originally Posted by 123sugey
My car shift at 6200 rpm's. My rev limiter is set for 6500.
What happened was i hit the limiter manually shifting the car w/ my nitrous. I was testing some things... that's why i was manually shifting my A4
You obviously floated 14 of 16 valves and smashed them into your pistons (make no mistake about that being the reason your pushrods are bent).

If I were you I would do a leakdown on every hole. The chance that you didn't actually bend one of those valves is slim to none. If its bent more than a little your going to know about it with a leakdown test (the bent valve wont seal and the leakdown will be horrible). More than likely the bent valves would have been the first ones to hit with more force before the RPM's came down, but any and all of them could be tweaked if you hit the piston hard enough to bend your pushrods.

Obviously if you do have some bent valves your power will be down if you try to run it that way.

The only chance you have of not bending the valves is the fact the factory pushrods arent as strong as an aftermarket but neither are the factory valves when compared to the aftermarket so its still a crapshoot. Do a leakdown test....its a must considering what you just experienced.

Tony

PS....I see a forged shortblock in your near future....LOL

Last edited by Tony Mamo @ AFR; Jul 17, 2007 at 11:55 AM.
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Old Jul 17, 2007 | 12:05 PM
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Tony, Thanks for the info. I'm going to do a leakdown for sure !!
The pushrods had a slight wobble to them (2 - a little more than the others).
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Old Jul 17, 2007 | 12:06 PM
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I have a set of like new yella terra's with retainers & keepers you can have for $100 if you come pick them up, and you can have stock ones free.
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Old Jul 17, 2007 | 12:13 PM
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Thanks. Right now i'm trying to figure it all out. Funny part is Wed. i was supposed to be in Tampa meeting Brad@TheCorvetteShow !!
I can't make it over there right now.
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Old Jul 17, 2007 | 04:04 PM
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Originally Posted by 123sugey
Thanks. Right now i'm trying to figure it all out. Funny part is Wed. i was supposed to be in Tampa meeting Brad@TheCorvetteShow !!
I can't make it over there right now.

Brad could help you with the tear-down.....he seems pretty handy.
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Old Jul 17, 2007 | 07:48 PM
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Originally Posted by TLewis4095
I have a set of like new yella terra's with retainers & keepers you can have for $100 if you come pick them up, and you can have stock ones free.
Are those the new design?
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