Valve spring clearance

topcatcustom · Post by **topcatcustom** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 10:29 am

I have been told by Paul at V8 Tuner that the inner spring ID is 0.607". I want to get a cutter to reduce the diameter of the 'post' around the guides inside the spring seats, but what sort of size ID do I need to get? Not sure how much clearance I need between the spring and locating post...

Help please! Then I am another step closer to finishing my heads!!!

TC

kiwicar · Post by **kiwicar** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 1:06 pm

I would look at 10 to 15 thou, much more and you will compromise stability, stick a generous champher on the top. I take it you are not using cap type stem seals.Do you have stepped retainers?
Mike

topcatcustom · Post by **topcatcustom** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 1:57 pm

Hi Mike, I will use the Crane retainers to go with the double valve springs yes, and I am sticking with the rubber washer stem seals (

I know!) as I could keep spending money upgrading parts but I would rather do that when it has all run for a bit and I know everything works!

So I really want a cutter with a 0.580" ID or thereabouts, does anyone have an old knackered head I can practise cut on?!?!

TC

kiwicar · Post by **kiwicar** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 5:32 pm

have a look on the comp cams website and find their valve spring chart, match your valve springs with a set of chevy ones (outside and inside diamiters of the spring assembly), from there find their cutter for the set up and order the cutter. You may actually find it easies to order off Summit once you have the part number off comp cams website, Comp cams is based in some backwater of the states where they have great difficulty understanding an english accent , Summit is based on the east coast and they have no such problem. Or measure up the springs and call Iskey cams and ask them for the right cutter, they speak and understand English and are very helpfull.
Mike

kiwicar · Post by **kiwicar** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 5:36 pm

Just had a look on ebay, summit are selling three comp cams valve spring seat cutters on there, just measure up your springs and buy

Mike
PS are you sure of your ID for the cutter, valve springs are one of those components that are "standard" across manufacturers parts bins, they tend to be of a limmited range of dimentions across GM, Ford, Mopar etc, 1.44 od springs have an inner spring ID of .63, 1.55" springs , the same .63", it saves a fortune on tooling and allows big savings across the range of engines I think that first cutter from summit is the one you want.

topcatcustom · Post by **topcatcustom** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 7:18 pm

I have seen a few 0.630" cutters so it would suggest that it may be the right size- I think I shall wait until I get the springs through as there is little point going from information which may be little more than chinese whispers!

kiwicar · Post by **kiwicar** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 9:10 pm

good plan
Mike

CastleMGBV8 · Post by **CastleMGBV8** » Sat Feb 14, 2009 11:16 am

Tom,

Don't know if you have ordered your double springs yet but spotted that DJE sre offering double spring sets on e-bay for £70.00

Ignore that I see that RS are £61.00

Kevin

topcatcustom · Post by **topcatcustom** » Sat Feb 14, 2009 4:12 pm

Got the springs through and have measured an internal one ID is 0.660" so the readily available 0.630" cutter should do the job just fine!

The only question is whether they are deep enough so they dont bottom out on the top of the valve guide if you see what I mean.....

Also with regards to the retainers- Paul said he uses standard ones and I tried and they fit but the inner spring rests on the champher which isn't ideal, are the P6 double spring retainers what he meant and suitable? Its another sixty something quid for crane retainers and all these bits keep adding up!

Cheers guys, TC