What is the normal lifespan of a Patriot Gold valve spring? I have a 383 with a .600 lift cam and was told 6-8k is all you get out of them. Was wondering what other users have gotten with theirs. Thanks in advance.

 

2 ******* oil changes out of a set of valve springs?

 

F*** that lol. I would never put those on my car

 

They're supposedly the most used valve spring out there on high lift LS motors. Who out there has used them and what mileage did you get out of them?
Also what is considered the best spring out there?

 

I ran those springs on my car with a TSP 224R cam for 20k miles, when I called patriot about the life span they told me they were only good for about 15k miles. I am now running PRC springs from TSP, they say these springs should last about 40k miles with my mods. Hope this helps.

 

i have the new (well they were a year ago) PRC EHT .675 lift springs. they use a silica technology that makes the spring stronger yet more flexible! great sprigs, TSP told me the same thing, 40-50k miles out of them, that is even with the occasional track pass and road fun. i dont know much about the Patriot springs, but i got mine for longevity.

 

Thanks guys for the info; whats the part number for the PRC's and wheres the best place to buy them?

 

Not sure of the Part number, just call Texas Speed. They sell them.

 

PRC .650" Lift Spring Kit
PRC .675" Lift Spring Kit

 

LOL, well I guess I'm a rare case then? I have had my Patriot Gold duals on my current H/C combo for 3yrs & almost 70k miles. Havent had a single issue with them. Granted my cam lift is below .600" but I havent seen any symptoms of valve float or anything else that would point to weakening valve springs. I do plan to change them out for a fresh set soon, but I have been highly impressed with what I have got out of them.

I do plan to have a friend measure the height & pressure of the old ones after we remove them to see what 70k miles of mixed city/highway & beating the **** out of them have done.

 

Guys, there is not written (or verbal) lifespan on springs. To do it properly one needs to check them every 15 K miles.
What I always wonder is why does anyone mod their car if they do not want to do maintenance on them.
Shortcuts is the "mother of all *uck-ups". If anyone wants stock like longevity, then keep it stock.
Since 1998, I have never lost a spring, bounced a valve, kissed a piston, spun a bearing etc... (I did loose #5 & #7) due to a nitrous spike. My fault, too much bottle pressure due to hot weather and being greedy.

 

I don't have a problem at all doing the maintenance; that's part of owning a hot rod. I change my oil every 1k miles just because I want the car to last. Overkill but thats just me.

I'm just looking for averages on spring life and what springs people are using that they've been real happy with.

 

Agreed. Thats why when I decided to go H/C I did lots of research, talked to you, Bo white & a few other very knowledgeable people on here about what I wanted to do and honestly I think we put together a stout little combo that should last a long time. Its was budget friendly to put together, has been budget friendly the last 3yrs maintenance wise & has bumped me enough in power to be perfectly happy with my little mild build. And I still have room for nitrous with this combo if I want more later.

Some people just read "XXX" cam put down "XXX" numbers & they jump on it without proper supporting mods or realizing that the crazy lift on that grind is gonna play hell on the valve train. I didnt want to worry about springs every 15k miles so I built my combo to achieve power & be maintenance friendly. Some people have the cash to constantly replace parts & run wild combos, I didnt & still dont so that played a role in parts selection.

 

I know a guy that works at a local-to-me (VERY well known.... same state) Speed shop / Sponsor that runs Comp 921's.... and has had them on 4 different cars, 2 of them being strictly drag cars, and now has them in his DD. Almost 65k miles thus far and still hasn't lost a bit of spring pressure.

Too bad they are so damned expensive!!

 

Spring life is relative to quality, proper install protocol, cam used, proper valvetrain geometry.
The latest fad is to run outrageous lifts, which doesn't make sense if you understand head flow at various lifts. (like LSK lobes for stock heads).

 

Went with the BT Racing springs..

 

I've had a set of Comp 941's in my turbo Buick S-10 since 2001, took them off last year while doing bearing and rings and they tested within 2% of the original values. Not bad for over 10 yrs!

 

I've had Patriot golds on my car for 3 yrs, about 20k miles maybe and one is broken. ~.600 lift on XFI lobes.

Are there any better springs I can get that use the same retainers?

Edit: I have the Extremes. The good ones measure between 145 and 155lbs on the seat.

 

My Platinum springs will drop right in with your components. Which spring broke the inner or outer?

 

Inner.

How much for 16 springs?