am_muscl

iTrader: (19)

So I finally found a job that is starting to pay well and I'm starting to plan out putting the car back together. I have my shortblock with Clayton Racing(awesome to deal with!!!), and my heads are at a shop in Lakemoore,IL and I'm trying to figure out what valvetrain to go with. It's a forged 355 with a 236/244 .608/.608 110 lsa and the heads are stock cast and will be equivalent to the LE3's. I don't want to have to replace this stuff again so I want good springs, valves, and pushrods. I'm also looking for good lifters also. I haven't asked the guys doing the heads but I'd like to have an idea of cost and suggestions for them.

If anybody could steer me in the right direction I would appreciate it. I also don't really care about the cost because I'm gonna make sure this is the best 355 I can make

TravisMcGill2000

iTrader: (2)

Id go with patriot gold springs, ls7 lifters and trickflow hardend pushrods.

FAD2BLK93

I would have to agree...good setup there.

trilkb

iTrader: (4)

Im running the patriot/ls7/trickflow chromemoly. the only weak link there is the ls7 lifters in my mind. I had one start to tick on me recently but am replacing them with the same lifters and dropping my rocker arm ratio to keep stress off them. You may want to check out link bar lifters and if you can afford them then they are the better choice.


For your application and the money your investing you should probably go with NSA rockers and guideplates to keep everything in control at high rpms instead of a self aligning rocker.

96capricemgr

iTrader: (1)

I have to laugh whenever I see "equivalent too" If you think the other thing is the gold standard why not buy that?

Far as the cam, depending on the ICL/advance ground in I would be concerned with if it will peak at an appropriate rpm, I would be concerned it will peak too near the pcm rev limitation to properly use.

Far as springs, whomever spec'd the cam should spec the springs, there is more to springs than lift capacity.

Far as LS7 lifters, we are seeing failure rates on them far above what we ever saw with original LT1 lifters, BUT LS7s are the OEM replacement these days, for new you can pretty much go with them, GMPP Cadillac Racing, or get into higher dollar aftermarket stuff.

Adam1203

iTrader: (5)

I would make sure you get a good spring. I broke one and lost an engine over it. So I would just say buy good springs, Install them properly, And replace them as often as needed.

robsquikz28

iTrader: (246)

x2......

96capricemgr

iTrader: (1)

There are a lot of "good" springs made. That does NOT mean a popular one is right for every cam.

am_muscl

iTrader: (19)

Thanks for the input. The reason I didn't just get the LE3's is because I couldn't setup payments with LE and the guys that are doing my heads are very reputable in the drag race community and they had no problem setting up payments. Also I will be using the 24x PCM conversion and LE is the one who spec'd the cam. I'm wondering with the pushrods, should I have the length checked before installing? Cuz right now I have 2 sets of trick flow chromoly pushrods but they are the 7.2 ones. I'm also wondering if the crower lifters are good or if I'm just going overkill.

am_muscl

iTrader: (19)

And 96caprice. If you don't mind me asking, what kind of stuff are you running? Cuz you seem to be knowledgeable on the boards and obviously doing something right to get your car running that fast

I also just noticed you set those times at Great Lakes! That's awesome that's the track I used to go to. And that big ole boat is moving!!

trilkb

iTrader: (4)

since your getting an engine that the heads have been off of and decked/milled/whatever'd plus its probably useing different thickness headgaskets, yes you need to check pushrod lenght.