Higher load valve springs?

[Schweppe23]

Has anyone looked into getting stiffer valve springs for our engines. Or could anyone point me into the direction where i could look for these for my application. Thanks in advance.

Pat Lavanty

[SPAZ]

See Aleroboy !!!

[phantom505]

I have them installed on my heads which should be getting done by now (I hope).

I believe they are using LS1 springs from Comp in my case. I think there are a few other places that make them too.

[SPAZ]

Find out what the spring rate # is ???

Are they single or double ???

[phantom505]

I almost burnt my eggs looking. In some email to FDP Performance he told me which ones he was getting, but I can figure out with one of like 100 emails its in.

I'm pretty sure its straight ( I think this means single, correct? ) and they have 105#'s at 1.7".

I wasn't the first person to attempt this (I think and hope).

I'll drop Franz another email and ask him to verify this. These heads have been something like 6 months in the works now. They are costing me quite a bit too. Now I'm having them ported for a turbo application.

[AaronGTR]

I'm interested in this too. If someone finds out if there is a spring we can use that doesn't require machining the heads to accept them, then I just might wait to install my RSM heads until I can get the stiffer springs. Someone (don't remember who) told me at the picnic that Spoon told him the valves can start to float as low as 5500rpm. I believe it's possible, especially since springs lose some tension with age and miles. This really concerns me since my rev limiter is set at 6300rpm and I'm going to be running close to 10psi of boost behind the valves. Another thing to think about is how the stock cam profile has to much over lap for boost. If the valves start floating this would only compound the problem and could add up to a huge power loss. What we really need is a fast ramp-up, high lift, low overlap cam, which would certainly demand stiffer valve springs. How many people are wishing for that too.:(

[phantom505]

I'll try to help (as always) with what I can. I sort of hire people that know more than me to mess with things like heads. Generally, I try to find out what should work best from people like bzopi, aleroboy, and several others, then I go pay for it.

Unfotuneately, everything I've tried to do takes longer than I (or them) expect. I was hoping to have the turbo kit done last week, now it will be a week and a half from now. Like I said before, the heads are 6 months in the making. I'm willing to bet that they will be about the best out there, and it will run me about a $1k when all is said and done.

So I'll let you know the minute I hear something from Franz, so stay tuned!!

[SPAZ]

Aaron, I'd imagine that we could get away with something that has 105-115 lbs. of seat pressure. As long as you match up the Pressure at Checking Height O.D. with our stock springs. Can't we use the Grand Prix springs as well ???

[phantom505]

Originally posted by SPAZ
Aaron, I'd imagine that we could get away with something that has 105-115 lbs. of seat pressure. As long as you match up the Pressure at Checking Height O.D. with our stock springs. Can't we use the Grand Prix springs as well ???

The information I found on those was that they were the wrong height.

BTW, Franz found new seats for the springs too. Just give him a day or two, he'll come through.

[SPAZ]

Valve Springs Free Length
48.5 mm
1.89 in

Valve Springs Load (Closed)
320 N @ 43.2 mm
75 lb @ 1.701 in

Valve Springs Load (Open)
1036 N @ 32 mm
230 lb @ 1.260 in

Installed Height Intake-Exhaust
43.2 mm
1.701 in

Approx. # or coils
6.55

[bszopi]

Here is some info for you:

http://www.60degreev6.com/GPXSS/2_27_03/60degreevalvetraininfo.xls

And here is a thread discussing valve springs:

http://discussions.gmforums.com/showthread.php?threadid=34181&highlight=ls1+springs

And some more info....

http://216.40.24.1/~sparks/heads/GEN3_HEAD_PARTS.html

[jaketuff]

Spoon mentioned that 120# square springs would be ideal... It would allow for a smoother power curve, and decrease the chance of valve float by a large amount. From what I understood, they would allow more power at higher rpms than we currently have up there, as well as preventing float.

OEM springs are rated for around 90#'s and are conical.

JOUT

[phantom505]

Okay, here is what FDP is going to put on my heads.

Comp 26915
http://www.60degreev6.com/index.php?p=pages&pid=250

[bszopi]

That's the same thing as my first link, except after Ben put it onto the website....