26918 Beehive spring installed height solution

[Russ Merritt]

26918 Beehives on an Iron head turned out to be a little bit of a challenge as it's tough to get enough installed height with the retainers and +.050 locks Comp offers (1.650"). Rick at Reids Auotmotive came up with a reletively simple solution that I haven't heard anyone else say/do yet. Correct me if I'm wrong please........

He ended up cutting down the stock retainer, shot peening them and with the +.050 locks came up with 1.750" installed height. So instead of using the lighter 26915s that probably would work but would be a little light on nose pressure, this solution will allow the preferred spring for the application. Just one more option if anyone's interested.


Reids Automotive
Whitman Ma
781-857-2500

 

[Russ Merritt]

NOPE! Will not work with the stock retainer! The groove they mill on the top at the valve lock kills the whole idea! After you cut down the retainer to fit the spring, that groove on top leaves only .030 of meterial where it needs to be the strongest! I cut one in half today and it pretty much killed using the stock retainer. A small block Chevy retainer cut down would work as it doesn't have the groove on top. So if they use those retainers instead, it would be 12$ more as they are only 1$ a piece........


Big Jim pointed that out after we thought we had the cure for cancer........................."Cut that thing in half and check how thick right there" Oh well