Valvesprings.....
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,859
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Valvesprings.....
I have a set of AFR 225's. I ran Comp 921's for around 26,000 miles w/no issues. I understand that AFR has released a proprietary dual valvespring (Part# 8019, I believe) that is also supposed to be very good AND according to AFR shows about a 10-15 HP increase over the 921's. I have had some issues with broken valvesprings on these heads due to the heads being incorrectly set up when new, and with the amount of money, and also plain HARD WORK it takes to R&R one of these motors from a C5, I am somewhat reluctant to change brands away from Comp, as they worked great for nearly 30,000 miles, and I am only changing them out because that is a LOT of miles for a valvespring that endures +.600 lift. BUT, like you guys, I AM intrigued by gaining 10-15 HP, especially for a price that is lower than the 921's are going for, though not a lot less. It would seem that because AFR makes good stuff, and they do stand behind their products, their valvesprings should (and HAVE to be) also be good stuff. Has anyone had any experiences with these springs? Any idea who makes them for AFR? Please let me know. Thank you. 
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 13,760
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From: Haymarket VA
I think any claim of an HP increase is based on the assumption that your current setup is not maintaining valve control. That's not going to be the case with 921's. The 921's are one of the best springs out there. You can buy just the springs since you already have the Ti retainers and spring seats and save a couple of hundred dollars.
Comp 921's are the only springs I will run.
Comp 921's are the only springs I will run.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
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From: At the beach in little Rhody
I would agree with the above as far as a hp gain. The 8019's are supposed to be excellent valve springs. I have a set on my heads on the workbench right now. Comp recently switched spring vendors (well, several months ago) and they ran into problems with the 918's, a few 921's had issues as well from what I read on other boards (I have no direct experience with this). I haven't heard of this issue recently so presumably the problems are resolved. If you go with the 921's, make sure you get them from a vendor who turns over a lot of stock and they haven't been sitting on the shelf for six months just in case there are still of few of the questionable sets floating around.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,731
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From: New Market AL
If you buy a set of Comp springs and are concerned with the batch number, just call their Engineering Department. I bought a new set of 918's that were prior to the revision. They sent me a set of the revised springs, and I mailed them back the ones I had. Competition Cams is a stand up company.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,283
Likes: 13
From: Akron Ohio
If you buy a set of Comp springs and are concerned with the batch number, just call their Engineering Department. I bought a new set of 918's that were prior to the revision. They sent me a set of the revised springs, and I mailed them back the ones I had. Competition Cams is a stand up company.
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,731
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From: New Market AL
Comp lists the upgraded 918's for .600" lift. It could go a little more, but I personally wouldn't do it.
As Vettenuts pointed out, the new design is the shiny silver color. They have now included a glass bead tumbling as a final stress relieve step, and that produces the new silver finish. I have about 8k miles on my 918 springs, and they are still good to go.
As Vettenuts pointed out, the new design is the shiny silver color. They have now included a glass bead tumbling as a final stress relieve step, and that produces the new silver finish. I have about 8k miles on my 918 springs, and they are still good to go.
Last edited by chevy406; Mar 1, 2008 at 09:19 PM.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
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Comp lists the upgraded 918's for .600" lift. It could go a little more, but I personally wouldn't do it.
As Vettenuts pointed out, the new design is the shiny silver color. They have now included a glass bead tumbling as a final stress relieve step, and that produces the new silver finish. I have about 8k miles on my 918 springs, and they are still good to go.
As Vettenuts pointed out, the new design is the shiny silver color. They have now included a glass bead tumbling as a final stress relieve step, and that produces the new silver finish. I have about 8k miles on my 918 springs, and they are still good to go.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
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From: At the beach in little Rhody
Your best source of information on the 8019's is really Tony Mamo. I know he has done a lot of testing on them personally and has stated many times how impressed he is with them on several boards I belong to. While I have them on my heads right now, I don't have any experience with them yet that will help you out.
Only thing I can offer is I did weigh them.
Spring: 95 gms
Retainer: 10 gms
Lock: 3 gms
Only thing I can offer is I did weigh them.
Spring: 95 gms
Retainer: 10 gms
Lock: 3 gms
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,859
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Your best source of information on the 8019's is really Tony Mamo. I know he has done a lot of testing on them personally and has stated many times how impressed he is with them on several boards I belong to. While I have them on my heads right now, I don't have any experience with them yet that will help you out.
Only thing I can offer is I did weigh them.
Spring: 95 gms
Retainer: 10 gms
Lock: 3 gms
Only thing I can offer is I did weigh them.
Spring: 95 gms
Retainer: 10 gms
Lock: 3 gms
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,558
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From: Cape Coral FL
I just had a set of 8019's installed on my newly reworked AFR 205's. I have about 100 miles on them so I can't give you any impression of how they hold up in the long run. Observations are they are very stout. I believe 155lbs. seat at installed height and 435lbs open. They are good .660" inch. They are heat cycled or treated so they don't require a break in.
Tony did my heads for me and while we were specing the heads we talked about the springs. I used to have 8017's which a very much like the Patriot Gold's and Tony told me these were an improvement over them. I don't know of anyone breaking a Patriot Gold, but that doesn't mean it hasn't happened. I'm sure any spring could break.
I'm currently running them in my LPE 403 and have had no issues with them.
Tony did my heads for me and while we were specing the heads we talked about the springs. I used to have 8017's which a very much like the Patriot Gold's and Tony told me these were an improvement over them. I don't know of anyone breaking a Patriot Gold, but that doesn't mean it hasn't happened. I'm sure any spring could break.
I'm currently running them in my LPE 403 and have had no issues with them.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,859
Likes: 4,658
I just had a set of 8019's installed on my newly reworked AFR 205's. I have about 100 miles on them so I can't give you any impression of how they hold up in the long run. Observations are they are very stout. I believe 155lbs. seat at installed height and 435lbs open. They are good .660" inch. They are heat cycled or treated so they don't require a break in.
Tony did my heads for me and while we were specing the heads we talked about the springs. I used to have 8017's which a very much like the Patriot Gold's and Tony told me these were an improvement over them. I don't know of anyone breaking a Patriot Gold, but that doesn't mean it hasn't happened. I'm sure any spring could break.
I'm currently running them in my LPE 403 and have had no issues with them.
Tony did my heads for me and while we were specing the heads we talked about the springs. I used to have 8017's which a very much like the Patriot Gold's and Tony told me these were an improvement over them. I don't know of anyone breaking a Patriot Gold, but that doesn't mean it hasn't happened. I'm sure any spring could break.
I'm currently running them in my LPE 403 and have had no issues with them.
