Max valve size for 4.0/4.6 heads?

Started by BlownMGB-V8, December 08, 2022, 11:26:48 AM

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BlownMGB-V8

Here are the stock retainers and seats:

IMG_0023.JPG

IMG_0024.JPG

Jim

mgb260


BlownMGB-V8

Jim, are you talking about the PAC-1231X mod motor spring? I actually think that might work fine with the standard offset retainer. No room for a steel washer under the spring and it'd be .015" tighter but I think that works out OK. No issue with coil bind. It raised the spring load by about 4.4# on both ends to 124 and 284#.  It sort of amazes me that they can do that with a 1.083" diameter spring.

Need to see what sort of prices I can find on that spring but this does sound like a possible solution. Also will have to get the price from TA for a V8 set of keepers (32ea.)

Jim

mgb260

Jim, The stock springs didn't have a steel shim under them? The small diameter beehive would set on the step around the guide? TA also has +50 keepers. listed for the V6.

http://www.taperformance.com/products.asp?cat=47
You may want to call them to see if they will work with the Rover valves.

turbodave

The stock (post 1980) sintered retainers are known to break up with prolonged high RPM, with that in mind I wouldn't want to be running high rpm with a higher spring load....
The pre 1980 retainers are machined and reputed to be almost indestructible.  The comp retainers posted earlier are easily available, but are slightly heavier than the pre 1980 retainers.
This pic shows the very obvious visual machined appearance of the earlier retainers. Very obvious vs the smooth, rounded edge appearance of the sintered units.
3DC021A4-0178-46FE-9ECB-10AA7FF73750.jpeg

turbodave

I am pretty sure last time I called and spoke with TA about the keepers, they said they weren't compatible with the Rover Valves. Now, I may be mistaken, but I was putting an order in with them at the time, and I would surely have purchased them if they were compatible.

Now, here is a suggestion though; A group (bulk) purchase. Personally, I'd purchase at least two engines-worth of keepers, maybe even three. I'm sure a lot more folks would be interested as well. If enough folks got together and requested it, I'm sure they'd make whatever....

Finally, for the springs, the Rover  heads have a diameter of 1.23" in the heads for the springs. There is a lot of thickness under the seats, so it's possible to dig this out more. The Manley 41824 is a well made piece of kit. I have one, but haven't tried it on a head yet.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/man-41824
https://www.vividracing.com/-p-153101452.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgpCh-pOB_AIVI_3jBx343Qh9EAQYASABEgIc1fD_BwE

turbodave

Finally, let me add that if there was enough interest, I could get a 11 degree (22 degree included angle) tapered milling cutter custom made, and make a fixture to hold a (10 degree) retainer, then come down and dress out the 10 degree to 11 degree pretty easily.

Lot of options, but I feel like we need to home in on a beehive spring that'll really do the job. Something that'll offer up to .520 lift, but I'm not convinced that a sping much over 300# rate is really needed - especially for a reasonable redline of 6250rpm or therabouts.

BlownMGB-V8

The spring pockets will have to be machined for the smaller diameter springs. There were no shims under the stock springs. The pockets could be cut a bit deeper to use shims.

Jim that link is for the keepers, I think this is the one for the V8 application:
http://www.taperformance.com/proddetail.asp?prod=TA%5F1434C

This seems to be the link for the retainers:
http://www.taperformance.com/proddetail.asp?prod=TA%5F1451B

And the link for the springs:
https://www.racingsprings.com/index.php/valve-spring-11368.html

At 120/280Lbs@.550" Dave this sounds like what you are interested in. I could see maybe going a bit higher on the open pressure myself but there's room to shim it to get more pressure if needed. $16 each for the springs seems like a lot to me though, that's $256 for the set. Maybe we could find something a bit less expensive, the costs are starting to add up. This one is for the GT500 and Cobra Jet, I'd expect there are other options.

Jim

mgb260

Jim the TA retainers are for standard springs not beehives. There are Coyote beehives that are similar, but I don't know if you can get 10 degree retainers that small of ID on top of spring. Coyote retainers are 7 degrees for 3 groove valves and are for a 6mm stem.

https://www.racingsprings.com/index.php/applications/ford/fmod-4-valve-spring/valve-spring.html

BlownMGB-V8

Ah, so you were suggesting those for the dual springs then. That makes sense.

How about this:
https://www.amazon.com/Competition-Cams-795-16-Retainers-Beehive/dp/B000N5MWMQ
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/cca-795-16

At .004" larger than the small ID of the spring they will certainly fit.

Jim

mgb260

Yep, those are the ones. If the Buick keepers fit the Rover valves the TA 10 degree for Buick V8 should work too.

BlownMGB-V8

Maybe we have a good combination then. Have to check with TA on the keepers. If that's a go I think we may have something here. We should recap the links once that is confirmed.

Jim

BlownMGB-V8

Let's clarify one last aspect. The spring pressure. The load required for a flat tappet cam is less than for a roller cam. This seems weird but the roller cams have a more aggressive ramp angle so they need more spring to follow the lobe and can tolerate it because of the roller.

So while 280lbs of open load is fairly high for a flat tappet, something like 350 might be equivalent for for a roller cam. I'm no authority on this, being kinda new to roller cams and would welcome some concrete data from you other guys. I know it's something of a moving target but...

Has anyone seen performance figures for something like redline vs spring pressures for a roller cam? I'm sure lift also plays a part.

Jim


MGBV8

Springs used on aluminum heads should run at least a hardened shim to prevent brinelling the softer aluminum material. If you need to reduce installed height, don't stack shims more than 0.090 inch-use a spring locator instead. Also use a locator if the spring diameter is smaller than the pocket.

Beehive vs. Conventional
Even on a relatively mild 406ci small-block Chevy with a hydraulic roller cam, a spring incorporating the latest technology can make a big difference. Westech Performance tested a traditional Comp Cams dual spring with damper (PN 954) against one of Comp's new single beehive springs (PN 26918). The 954 developed 210 pounds on the seat and 523 pounds open, compared with the 26918's 130/318-pound specs. Both springs were installed with titanium retainers and locks, yet the beehive combination was still 52 grams lighter. If the engine's steel valves had been replaced with titanium valves instead, the weight savings would have been just 40 grams.

Overall peak output was virtually the same: 418.4 lb-ft for the 954 versus 416.9 lb-ft for the 26918, both at 4,800 rpm; and 418.2 hp versus 419.3 hp for the 954 and 26918, respectively, at 5,800 rpm. Average output throughout the 2,500- to 7,000-rpm test range varied by only about two numbers. But above 6,500 rpm, the difference was huge: The new-tech 26918 effectively extended the engine's rpm range, proving to be worth 15 to 36 hp and 12 to 28 lb-ft on top. The stiffer 954 did produce more low-end torque because its higher loads were actually bending the other components, effectively decreasing duration at the valve.
Carl


BlownMGB-V8

That engine seemed to have really high spring loads. But then it is a BBC and has big valves and everything. Rover valves are considerably smaller. I'm also using solid roller lifters which are cut down and are significantly lighter than the hydraulics.

On those Blackhorse springs, by the time you bought the valves and machined the seats to match I suspect it would be a wash.

Jim

MGBV8

Carl

BlownMGB-V8

They didn't make a recommendation. It's basically a GM grind  done through TA on a blank by one of the major cam companies like Crane or Isky. It was that "Hot" grind suggested by Jim N., I'm having trouble coming up with the name at the moment.

Jim

mgb260


Airwreckc

Dave, I'll be using Rover heads, so definitely interested in participating in a bulk purchase.

mgb260

Eric, I think you want to go the other way and machine the 11 degree Buick to 10 degree so you can use aftermarket retaners. Which is what TA sells in the link above. If you use Dave's idea, you are limited to the stock Rover or Buick retainers which may or may  not work with aftermarket springs.

MGBV8

Milder cam than I was expecting, especially when the valve lash is factored in.
Carl

Airwreckc

Thanks Jim, the whole spring thing is a mystery to me--thanks for letting me know.

turbodave

Well, TA Performance are closed till the third of Jan

So I guess we will have to wait a little longer to verify 100% if these are compatible with the Rover Valves.


http://www.taperformance.com/proddetail.asp?prod=TA%5F1434C

Cheers,