valve springs stock unopend block w/65k mi?

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Alaskabuick

Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2004
Messages
699
Should I upgrade me valve springs? Car seems to run fine, but noses over at the top of 2nd gear a bit.
Motor is stock with the normal bolt on's, TE 44, 50 Lb injectors, 3" dp , etc.

What springs should I go with?

thanks,

Dennis
 
One thing most people will agree on is that you should replace the stock valve springs. They have a reputation for getting tired and producing the symptoms you describe. This can be done without removing the heads or intake, if you are careful and use one of the tools that vendors sell.

What people will disagree on is what springs to put on. When I did mine several years ago, I bought the stock replacement springs from Kirbans, and they have been working well on my stock cam for years. Some have said that the Kirbans springs are too stiff and wipe out cam lobes, but I haven't had that problem (yet).

My advice would be to find springs that are slightly stiffer than the stock ones, but just slightly. This will keep the valves closed under high boost while avoiding too much pressure on the cam lobes. You can probably use the search function to find lots of posts about valve springs.

Of course, if you're planning to upgrade from the stock cam, you'll want to buy springs to match that cam.

I'm sure others will chime in with more options...

Mike
Sent from my HTC Droid Incredible using Turbo Buick
 
Should I upgrade me valve springs? Car seems to run fine, but noses over at the top of 2nd gear a bit.
Motor is stock with the normal bolt on's, TE 44, 50 Lb injectors, 3" dp , etc.

What springs should I go with?

thanks,

Dennis
Used Kirbans for many miles on a stock cam
 
Replace them.......Comp cam 979's are more than adequate and have less spring than the 980's (which are overkill on a stock cam IMO). FWIW I have ran 90 k on 979's and my stock cam would still rev to 5800 .
 
I agree that the springs could need replaceing. I did mine last fall with the comp cams that were slightly stronger than stock and have a stronger top end (or so I think).

However, I also took the stock springs to an engine shop to have them measured. At least two of the six did not measure above 65lbs.

Good luck,
Matt
 
so basically you have gone 30,000 miles shouldn't need valve springs but they are pretty easy to do and test.
 
i went with the Comp 980s with NO problems --i went 12.10 on a 180K plus miles on a stock long block weighing at 3800#
good luck which ever way you go.
 
I was just thinking, I have a set of bee hive springs I took off my big turbo car. I think they are the ones with the purple stripe? Let me check...
Could I even consider usting these on a stock head? I guess if may take some measureing of installed height, open height, etc to make sure they will work.
Or does anyone have knowledge of these spring on a stock head stock cam car?

thanks for all the help!
 
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