how the heck does that happen? i got one and i am not real happy about it. i hope that valve isn't bent, i dont feel like pulling those heads again.


is there ANYTHING i could have done to cause this or is it just a bad spring?

i got the springs for cmotorsports, they are some off brand but they said they have had good luck with them, something like a ex616 or something, i will have to look them up.

 

the fact that they are an off brand could have something to do with it. from what i've seen in breaking springs, it's either that you're to close to, or above the maximum lift for them, or it's a combination of that and reving to high.

 

Bummer, I've had several of those over the past 4 years. Never did much damage and only had to pull the heads once. Mine were all the same brand and they claimed to have fixed the issue. I don't think its anything you could have done. Wonder what the manufacter date was for your springs.

As far as your head gasket woes. I went through several and everyone kept tellling me I had done everything right. (I was running a 250-350 direct port) Nothing seemed to work so in the End we were using 100ftlbs or so on the heads with O rings and Copper gaskets. That fixed it. A local guy makes the copper gaskets let me know if you want some.

 

my problem ended up being the head builder set them up to tight. they were beyond the tollerance of the spring. i broke 8 total and that included 2 inner springs. when i miked the install height i think it was like 1.740 whitch is tight.

i would say if they are settup correct then it was prob a combo of weak spring, to much rev/lift. also i learned to let the truck to get to 160* before driving.

 

i dont understand this at all, the springs are rated for 600+lift cams and i have a 595lift cam. only 2-3000miles on them. vavle doesn't seem to be bent at least. i can't get the cap and retainers out now, anyone have any ideas? i tried tapping on it and using some chanel locks too.

 

isn't 1.8" the correct spring height for most springs as far as LS1s are concerned? i know that's what my revs were set at.

 

THat's about the only thing I've heard about breaking them and still being in limits of the spring capabilities.

 

Its probably OK. Your piston may have a nice little smiley face on it now though. I haven't heard of that spring you are running.

For all the bad things thatpeople have said about the patriot performance heads, I've heard nothing but good things about their gold valve springs. Supposed to be good for .650 lift. Kit comes with springs, seats, retainers, and locks I think.

Are you able to compress the spring any?

 

Send the heads to TEA have them install a set Comp 978s and oring the head at the same time they can send them back to you in time to run a 10 next weekend.

 

not sure what you mean, i am able to move the valve and put air to the cylinder, seem to not leak thru the intake, i think i am ok there.

that cap is just plain stuck on there, there is no spring holding it up either.