Valve spring prep

[gnicholson]

I was changing springs on my bbc drag car and was wondering what the consensus for spring prep is. I allways radius the inside of the spring to keep the sharp edge from wearing against the retainer. I also round and radius the end of the coils as well as the damper if it uses one and slightly radius the sharp edge left from grinding the end coils flat. I then clean em up coil bind them a few times and oil . Am i wasting my time?

[mag2555]

If your running a spring package that uses a flat wire damper your just asking for trouble no matter how well you prep & polish over things!
Drop a valve once due to a flat wire damper unwinding out thru a outer coil like many of us have had take place and you will be signing our sage song also!
A very important thing to check is that the nose of the retainer has some free play in the top of the inner spring.
If you have to apply pressure to get it installed you stand a good chance of snapping off the top coil of the inner spring!

[user-30257]

If your running a spring package that uses a flat wire damper your just asking for trouble no matter how well you prep & polish over things!
Drop a valve once due to a flat wire damper unwinding out thru a outer coil like many of us have had take place and you will be signing our sage song also!
A very important thing to check is that the nose of the retainer has some free play in the top of the inner spring.
If you have to apply pressure to get it installed you stand a good chance of snapping off the top coil of the inner spring!

Oh yeah dude.

[engineguyBill]

Quality high performance valve springs are finished and inspected prior to being packaged and shipped, therefore no additional grinding nor deburring is necessary or recommended. However it is a good idea to compress the springs to coil-bind several times prior to installation.

[cardo0]

Though I never seem to get the chance to inspect my valve springs I've read an inspection with a 4X magnifier (loupe?) should be done looking for burrs, nicks and defects. Then a scrub with Scotch Brite pad stuff - can't recall why the scrub though.

[mag2555]

The scrub down is BS, but any nicks, scratches or the like can prove to be deadly!

How ever you can polish out a small nick and dodge a bullet.

[Loftfan]

One bit of prep that could be valuable is softening the underside of the spring tip where it contacts the first coil. Use a plastic tool to lift up the spring tip slightly and use a strip of emery cloth to soften that sharp edge there. Do this on both ends of each spring, inner and outer as applicable.

What you are reducing is the contact stress where the spring tip rubs on the coil beneath it.

[gnicholson]

I have a 1.625 spring with a damper right now. To go to a 1.640 without a damper i would need the corresponding retainer and to make sure the spring pocket is big enough. Ive never had a problem on this engine with the damper breaking

[pamotorman]

i always dipped my valve springs in hot gear oil and let them cool to get a good coat of oil because dry start on the springs is not a good idea.

[mag2555]

Flat wire dampers do not break my friend , they unwind and pop out thru the outer spring and then depending on the lift your applying to the spring they jam the valve from opening and snap the keepers open and then it's dropped valve time!

If it where me I would do and spen whatever nessarry to get a true triple spring set up in the on the heads if a different duel spring set up can not provide the pressures you need.

[zums]

I have a 1.625 spring with a damper right now. To go to a 1.640 without a damper i would need the corresponding retainer and to make sure the spring pocket is big enough. Ive never had a problem on this engine with the damper breaking

Nothing wrong with a damper, ive run the same spring diameter with a damper past 9500 with restricted oiling never had one unwind, prep you can hit the ends of the damper with a cratex wheel, if you spring supplier is good quality thats most of the battle,as was said check for nicks,scratches , keep your hands off them {use gloves}
Tom