I started the assembly of heads today they consist of 202 160 Manley race flow valves. Prc 650 lift valve springs and titanium retainers. The locks are big compared to stock. My installed height with the titanium retainers and hardend locks is around 1.7 instead of 1.8 with a stock retainer and locks it's 1.8 even on the Manley valves. My question is what can I do about the extra 100 thousands the springs are dual valve springs do they make a retainer that will gain me .100 thousands

 

I measured a stock valve spring seat that came with the patriot springs it's almost twice as thick as the stock one. Do they make a thinner valve spring seat?

 

My patriots installed low too... Too low to run a .650 cam. I fixed the problem by going with PRCs instead.

 

any idea what the exact height was on them? how bout installed hieght of the prc? i called patriot and they said there gonna make it right even though they were used. they said they have never had anybody call and complain but iv read of a few people having the same problem.

 

Measure your install height with no seat and then measure the seat thickness and subtract that from the number you measured first. They do make .100 retainers and also .050 locks but you shouldn't need them and less you have a custom length valve. You may have tghe wrond locks and they may not be fitting in the valve correctly.

 

The locks are Super 7 locks which are stronger and larger than stock. I don't know if you can get a thinner retainer because the dual retainer needs the ridge to control the inner spring.

How are you measuring?

 

Yes, I know exactly what the heights were, but since you aren't using my heads, the measurements are of no use to you. As mentioned, you should be measuring your own stuff. I think a lot of the complaints about broken valve springs are because too many guys just trust the specs instead of measuring their own stuff.

 

I'm using a set of dial calipers. I was gonna get the spring seats milled down .100 thousands but iv learned that I'll hit water if I go that much: I found thinner hardened spring locators that are .35 instead of .60 and I'm gonna get .50 retainers to minimize the work o have to get done on my head. I'm glad I did check the installed heigh

 

Personally, I would buy a valve spring height micrometer first and use that to take the measurements and then work from there.

 

i agree with the finally assembly about buying a valve spring height checker. i have several ls1 and sbc books that all measure valve spring height with a set of dial calipers. a few other threads iv read showed the measurements from calipers and valve spring checkers being only a few thousands off. once i get the installed hieght measuring 1.8 on my calipers then ill go buy a valve spring checker. i called patriot today and they said they have discontinued making the .50 thousand retainers