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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
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Valve spring keeper issue?

  • Thread starter Thread starter JenkinsBS
  • Start date Start date Sep 3, 2006

JenkinsBS

Founding Member
Apr 16, 2002
1,001
1
39
Washington
Sep 3, 2006
#1
  • Sep 3, 2006
  • #1
Well ive got the heads off of my car, and im noticing that some of the valve spring keepers arent lined up... or somthing, here are some pics





Anyone know if thats bad or not? I dont want to fire it up and have valve springs flying off...
 
R

R2D2

Sep 3, 2006
#2
  • Sep 3, 2006
  • #2
totally normal
 

bluevenom867

I will have images of molesting stuffed animals in
Dec 15, 2003
1,704
1
0
St.Petersburg,FL
Sep 3, 2006
#3
  • Sep 3, 2006
  • #3
Yup,if they are properly sized for the valve stem,they will have that little gap.
 
E

eec4tuner

New Member
Mar 31, 2005
4
0
0
Sep 4, 2006
#4
  • Sep 4, 2006
  • #4
looks normal to me.
 

thumper460

Founding Member
Jul 24, 2000
3,022
2
56
Orange Park , Fl
Sep 4, 2006
#5
  • Sep 4, 2006
  • #5
NORMAL.. BUT WRONG!! you are now putting the incorrect spring pressures on the valve train!! There is about a .100 differance INSTALLED height on the valve locking groove!! The stock heads have a rotator retainer on the exhaust and thus the locking groove is different than the intake valve.. when you install performance springs.. you HAVE to equalize that distance!! to equalize the spring pressures for the valve train!! COOL?? You do this with a different retainer.. ( installed heights are different with the correct retainers ) or with an OFFSET keeper or both!! Get to you machine shop and see what they have!! but as it stands now.. you are incorrect and will cause damage over the long run!!

Just me....................................

Thumper
 

JenkinsBS

Founding Member
Apr 16, 2002
1,001
1
39
Washington
Sep 6, 2006
#6
  • Sep 6, 2006
  • #6
thumper460 said:
NORMAL.. BUT WRONG!! you are now putting the incorrect spring pressures on the valve train!! There is about a .100 differance INSTALLED height on the valve locking groove!! The stock heads have a rotator retainer on the exhaust and thus the locking groove is different than the intake valve.. when you install performance springs.. you HAVE to equalize that distance!! to equalize the spring pressures for the valve train!! COOL?? You do this with a different retainer.. ( installed heights are different with the correct retainers ) or with an OFFSET keeper or both!! Get to you machine shop and see what they have!! but as it stands now.. you are incorrect and will cause damage over the long run!!

Just me....................................

Thumper
Click to expand...

Thumper, they are stock e7s, however the machinest i took it to put diffrent valves / springs / keepers in the heads.

He said they were chevy valves, i dont know if that makes a diffrence...
 

thumper460

Founding Member
Jul 24, 2000
3,022
2
56
Orange Park , Fl
Sep 6, 2006
#7
  • Sep 6, 2006
  • #7
Cool.. I am NOT going to dis anyone!! ask the shop what the installed height of the springs are.. !! IF the springs are installed at the correct height.. buy using shims under the spring at the seat.. then the way the retainer sits on the valve is a mute point!! cause it IS the spring installed height that is the key issue!!
Also using the Chevy valves MIGHT cause a pushrod issue and they are a different length than the fords.. Esp. with the non adjustable ped. style rocker arm.. Believe me.. been there done that!! LOL Hope all this is BS and your heads are rocking for you... cool??
Just me.................................

Thumper
PS. there are aftermarket valves 1.90/1.60 that are correct ford valve stem heights.. cool??
 

JenkinsBS

Founding Member
Apr 16, 2002
1,001
1
39
Washington
Sep 6, 2006
#8
  • Sep 6, 2006
  • #8
thumper460 said:
Cool.. I am NOT going to dis anyone!! ask the shop what the installed height of the springs are.. !! IF the springs are installed at the correct height.. buy using shims under the spring at the seat.. then the way the retainer sits on the valve is a mute point!! cause it IS the spring installed height that is the key issue!!
Also using the Chevy valves MIGHT cause a pushrod issue and they are a different length than the fords.. Esp. with the non adjustable ped. style rocker arm.. Believe me.. been there done that!! LOL Hope all this is BS and your heads are rocking for you... cool??
Just me.................................

Thumper
PS. there are aftermarket valves 1.90/1.60 that are correct ford valve stem heights.. cool??
Click to expand...

Haaha at least its not a complete chevy motor in the car

But the machine shop that did my heads is no longer in buisness, they went down about 6 months ago, and i have no idea where the guy went, BUT...

The guy was kinda like a local ledgend at the drags in my town like, 30 years ago, he built and raced all kinds of cars from alchohol blown customs to circle track dirt racers, so id HOPE he knew what he was doing

Ive got adjustable roller rockers on there, so that should be okay, and he DID say he got new pushrods for me, i could measure them tonight. What is the length of a stock 302 pushrod from 1986?
 
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