Valve Spring Shims
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Valve Spring Shims
I have a set of TEA 2.5 243 heads with 921 springs on them. I picked these up a while ago and havent gotten the chance to put them on. I noticed that the shims for the springs are off center on a few of the springs. Is this a big issue? I can take the springs off and move the shims, but if their placement isnt an issue I wont bother. Here are some pics. Thanks for the help.
#3
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That doesn't look good at all to me. The center hole in the shim doesn't match the valve guide. It's too big.
I would pull them apart and figure out what's up.
The spring should locate on either the guide or there should be a spring cup under the spring that locates on the guide and contains the outside of the bottom of the spring.
I would check the spring spec for proper installed height.
Ron
I would pull them apart and figure out what's up.
The spring should locate on either the guide or there should be a spring cup under the spring that locates on the guide and contains the outside of the bottom of the spring.
I would check the spring spec for proper installed height.
Ron
#4
That doesn't look good at all to me. The center hole in the shim doesn't match the valve guide. It's too big.
I would pull them apart and figure out what's up.
The spring should locate on either the guide or there should be a spring cup under the spring that locates on the guide and contains the outside of the bottom of the spring.
I would check the spring spec for proper installed height.
Ron
I would pull them apart and figure out what's up.
The spring should locate on either the guide or there should be a spring cup under the spring that locates on the guide and contains the outside of the bottom of the spring.
I would check the spring spec for proper installed height.
Ron
#5
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Having the shim off-center would mean that the spring would be compressed unevenly. This can't be good at higher speeds.
It's been awhile, but if memory serves, even though my shims were centered, I felt that the shims were not wide enough to provide a complete base for the spring.
I used the comp shims.
It's been awhile, but if memory serves, even though my shims were centered, I felt that the shims were not wide enough to provide a complete base for the spring.
I used the comp shims.
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That doesn't look good at all to me. The center hole in the shim doesn't match the valve guide. It's too big.
I would pull them apart and figure out what's up.
The spring should locate on either the guide or there should be a spring cup under the spring that locates on the guide and contains the outside of the bottom of the spring.
I would check the spring spec for proper installed height.
Ron
I would pull them apart and figure out what's up.
The spring should locate on either the guide or there should be a spring cup under the spring that locates on the guide and contains the outside of the bottom of the spring.
I would check the spring spec for proper installed height.
Ron
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#8
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There are cups under the springs and the springs themselves are located straight inline with the valves. I think you are correct about the center hole being to big for the guides. I compressed one of the springs and was able to slide the shim to center it on the spring/cup. I will pull a spring to check out the center hole to see whats up.
The hole in the shim needs to be pretty close to the guide OD.
Good luck!
ron
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The shims I used on my LS3 heads had a large internal diameter, which allowed for the same type of movement. I was careful to center them when I was installing the springs, but as a "test" I did move one as far offset as it could go, and even then it was still underneath the spring seat all the way around, so I don't think it would cause any kind of unevenness for the spring.
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Jim- I feel like I am in the same situation as you are. The shims did have a large diameter inner hole, but the cup seems to be supported across the bottom even on the most offset shims. I am going to pull them as soon as I get a new spring compressor anyway just to check them out as well as the valve seals. My spring compressor is a hand crank kind and can not grab the inner spring to fully compress and remove them.
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I'd recommend the Proform valve spring tool. After fighting relentlessly with a POS that I borrowed from a friend, I sprung for the proform tool and it made spring removal/installation a very simple task.