This is a fantastic video. Its not often that you get a chance to have an expert break down a a process that so many know so little about. Thank you Eric!
That information on the locks was very good. I hadn't thought of that, but as soon as you started to talk about it, I knew the install height would change! Great tip!
Cool! What a great piece of advice! I really appreciate all your efforts to help us understand what’s going on in head porting, and assembly. It’s a great wealth of knowledge!
I know next to nothing about this stuff, and right now I'm neck deep in an LS build. between my cam profile and rocker set up Im in fear that Im dangerously close to or even beyond a safe geometry. I have not even purchased springs or lifters yet for fear of making a mistake, (I install flooring normally, not engines with a 1/3 of my years pay wrapped into it, lol). I havent had a car in near 30 years and when I was into it, I always left the heads to pro's, most that I knew was how to set my valve lash. I've only just discovered this channel about 2 weeks ago and feel like Ive heard more than the whole rest of my life. So please forgive me for my ignorance but I was under the assumption that the valve length and valve seat more or less dictated the install height and I guess I thought the shims - IDK like preload your springs. I can't help feel that the more I learn I'm finding that I'm actually an idiot. I do appreciate the no bullshit and, "look this is just how it really is". approach. It's nice to finally see someone just keeping it real. My engine is the black sheep LS4, cam I don't think is too radical at all, but my lift is were I thought the power would come from, and now I'm scared I over shot with a Comp Cams 219/227 int/exh @ 0.050, 112 lobe sep. and then what scares me, 0.3570/0.3610 lobe lift with 1.8 ratio roller rockers. I'm for sure going to follow their recommendation for springs but I'm sure I'll need longer pushrods to get geometry right. I was hoping to get in the 375 HP range, but thats hard to do if you force feed your valves to your pistons.
When you changed to the Brodix retainers, didn't it show that the shims needed to come out and if they did the spring would be back at a 2" install height? And, when the spring is at a 2" install height, it is still going to be at 250lbs force? Brett....
Do i need locators on a sbc steel head? or just shim it to the installed valve height? Better to install to keep the spring in check at higher rpm`s i bet?
Question...my new springs calls for 1.320" install height at 93 lb, but at 1.320" height it measures 80lb? I'm lowering it to 1.250" installed height at 95lb. With the cam at max lift i still have 0.105" clearance before coil bind.
I understand that what you are saying with the spring pressure changing with installed height however I do have a question about shimming the spring so that it operates .050-.060 off of bind dictated by cam lift to stabilize the spring at high rpm. What are your opinions on this. I have always done it this way and it has always works. Should I just pick a different spring? Does running the spring close to bind actually stabilize it?
It helps because it allows the coils to self dampen by being able to touch together when they surge so if your loads are appropriate with the spring set up that way it is helpful. The problem is that it is pretty dangerous to do this if you don't use a checker that pulls every spring to coil bind. In a set I've seen springs vary by more than .050 on the bind height so going by what's on the box isn't playing it safe.
How do I determine what valve lengths I need for a head ?I have an sb2.2 head new ,valve job done by ultra pro some time ago, and im looking for a 2.020 installed height,and I was also wondering is this going to effect my rocker gear also Sorry if I'm asking dumb questions 🤦♂️ Reason I'm asking is there's a lot nascar new left over ti valves around and im trying to save some money, cause valves are crazy 💰 thanks for your time
So assuming a head is stock and the install height is 1.8 on a ls1 . Is that install height including the locks and retainer ? The spring should be slightly shorter with out the retainer so after the retainer is install it’ll be the 1.8 height ?
This is a fantastic video. Its not often that you get a chance to have an expert break down a a process that so many know so little about. Thank you Eric!
Thank you for this video. Very helpful.
Nice to see you engine builders giving out alittle info. Basic for some of us, hope to see more....... thanks.
That information on the locks was very good. I hadn't thought of that, but as soon as you started to talk about it, I knew the install height would change! Great tip!
Cool! What a great piece of advice! I really appreciate all your efforts to help us understand what’s going on in head porting, and assembly. It’s a great wealth of knowledge!
Best explanation of installed height I’ve seen ?
Great Tutorial...!👍 Well Said..Realy enjoy your Videos...
Great vid.
I know next to nothing about this stuff, and right now I'm neck deep in an LS build. between my cam profile and rocker set up Im in fear that Im dangerously close to or even beyond a safe geometry. I have not even purchased springs or lifters yet for fear of making a mistake, (I install flooring normally, not engines with a 1/3 of my years pay wrapped into it, lol). I havent had a car in near 30 years and when I was into it, I always left the heads to pro's, most that I knew was how to set my valve lash. I've only just discovered this channel about 2 weeks ago and feel like Ive heard more than the whole rest of my life. So please forgive me for my ignorance but I was under the assumption that the valve length and valve seat more or less dictated the install height and I guess I thought the shims - IDK like preload your springs. I can't help feel that the more I learn I'm finding that I'm actually an idiot. I do appreciate the no bullshit and, "look this is just how it really is". approach. It's nice to finally see someone just keeping it real. My engine is the black sheep LS4, cam I don't think is too radical at all, but my lift is were I thought the power would come from, and now I'm scared I over shot with a Comp Cams 219/227 int/exh @ 0.050, 112 lobe sep. and then what scares me, 0.3570/0.3610 lobe lift with 1.8 ratio roller rockers. I'm for sure going to follow their recommendation for springs but I'm sure I'll need longer pushrods to get geometry right. I was hoping to get in the 375 HP range, but thats hard to do if you force feed your valves to your pistons.
I think I would have been dollars ahead to just shove a turbo onto the original 3.9, I just can't stand the sound of a v-6.
Any opinions on WPC metal treament process?
When you changed to the Brodix retainers, didn't it show that the shims needed to come out and if they did the spring would be back at a 2" install height? And, when the spring is at a 2" install height, it is still going to be at 250lbs force? Brett....
Do i need locators on a sbc steel head? or just shim it to the installed valve height? Better to install to keep the spring in check at higher rpm`s i bet?
Question...my new springs calls for 1.320" install height at 93 lb, but at 1.320" height it measures 80lb?
I'm lowering it to 1.250" installed height at 95lb. With the cam at max lift i still have 0.105" clearance before coil bind.
I understand that what you are saying with the spring pressure changing with installed height however I do have a question about shimming the spring so that it operates .050-.060 off of bind dictated by cam lift to stabilize the spring at high rpm. What are your opinions on this. I have always done it this way and it has always works. Should I just pick a different spring? Does running the spring close to bind actually stabilize it?
It helps because it allows the coils to self dampen by being able to touch together when they surge so if your loads are appropriate with the spring set up that way it is helpful. The problem is that it is pretty dangerous to do this if you don't use a checker that pulls every spring to coil bind. In a set I've seen springs vary by more than .050 on the bind height so going by what's on the box isn't playing it safe.
How do I determine what valve lengths I need for a head ?I have an sb2.2 head new ,valve job done by ultra pro some time ago, and im looking for a 2.020 installed height,and I was also wondering is this going to effect my rocker gear also
Sorry if I'm asking dumb questions 🤦♂️
Reason I'm asking is there's a lot nascar new left over ti valves around and im trying to save some money, cause valves are crazy 💰 thanks for your time
You just have to use a mock up valve and go from there.
So assuming a head is stock and the install height is 1.8 on a ls1 . Is that install height including the locks and retainer ? The spring should be slightly shorter with out the retainer so after the retainer is install it’ll be the 1.8 height ?
The only way you can get installed height is with the retainer and lock as shown in the video.
So much misinformation out there.