317 Heads Brian Tooley Spring kit Pressure problems
317 Heads Brian Tooley Spring kit Pressure problems I had a machine shop install my Brian Tooley spring kit.
I ordered a.660 Lift Platinum spring kit.
The specs on the springs are supposed to be
Installed height 1.78
160-161 Seat pressure
385-388 open pressure
The machine shop said they could not get these specs with my factory LQ4 317 Heads.
I got my heads back and the machine shop is saying
Install height : 1.770 at 165 seat pressure
1.160 at 405 open.
This is quit a bit higher then what Brian Tooley says.
1.Will this eat my CAM?
2.What would cause this difference?
3. How do I fix this?
I ordered a.660 Lift Platinum spring kit.
The specs on the springs are supposed to be
Installed height 1.78
160-161 Seat pressure
385-388 open pressure
The machine shop said they could not get these specs with my factory LQ4 317 Heads.
I got my heads back and the machine shop is saying
Install height : 1.770 at 165 seat pressure
1.160 at 405 open.
This is quit a bit higher then what Brian Tooley says.
1.Will this eat my CAM?
2.What would cause this difference?
3. How do I fix this?
My set was not plug and play. I had to shim one because the seat was about 140 and the open was a little higher on most than we would have liked, but I don't recall what they were.
We have a digital spring tester that we use and it's very accurate.
The pressure on the Platinum springs only varies about +/- 5 lbs. But we've had shops say they're as low as 140 lbs and as high as 180 lbs.
I would guess 95% or more of these spring kits are installed without checking installed heights or spring pressure and yet have no issue. The retainers are machined within +/- .002" and stock GM heads have an installed height around +/- .005"
As far as too much pressure, we've run upwards of 200 lbs seat and 500 lbs open pressure on hydraulic roller combinations without an issue. Most of the boosted applications that we setup are shimmed to an installed height of 1.750 which yields about 170 lbs on the seat.
When the springs are put into operation they will initially lose some pressure which will reduce seat and open pressures.
We also offer .045" thick locators that increase the installed height by .015" if you're very concerned with your setup. I can swap these out at no charge.
Hey Brian,
Thanks for the reply.
Im not concerned with the setup if it will work. I just don't want to eat my CAM.
I left you a message yesterday. When you call me back today we can decide what we want to do.
Thanks for being easy to work with!!!!
Great Customer Service Everyone
Thanks for the reply.
Im not concerned with the setup if it will work. I just don't want to eat my CAM.
I left you a message yesterday. When you call me back today we can decide what we want to do.
Thanks for being easy to work with!!!!
Great Customer Service Everyone
I shimmed mine and installed them at 1.750 in my AFR 205's.
I never had any issues. I did however check with Brian first. I wanted to be within .050 of coil bind, and the install height I installed them at gave me that.
I never had any issues. I did however check with Brian first. I wanted to be within .050 of coil bind, and the install height I installed them at gave me that.
The #1 problem we see with incorrect spring pressures resides with the spring tester itself. Spring testers vary about as much as flow benches and dyno's.
We have a digital spring tester that we use and it's very accurate.
The pressure on the Platinum springs only varies about +/- 5 lbs. But we've had shops say they're as low as 140 lbs and as high as 180 lbs.
I would guess 95% or more of these spring kits are installed without checking installed heights or spring pressure and yet have no issue. The retainers are machined within +/- .002" and stock GM heads have an installed height around +/- .005"
As far as too much pressure, we've run upwards of 200 lbs seat and 500 lbs open pressure on hydraulic roller combinations without an issue. Most of the boosted applications that we setup are shimmed to an installed height of 1.750 which yields about 170 lbs on the seat.
When the springs are put into operation they will initially lose some pressure which will reduce seat and open pressures.
We also offer .045" thick locators that increase the installed height by .015" if you're very concerned with your setup. I can swap these out at no charge.
We have a digital spring tester that we use and it's very accurate.
The pressure on the Platinum springs only varies about +/- 5 lbs. But we've had shops say they're as low as 140 lbs and as high as 180 lbs.
I would guess 95% or more of these spring kits are installed without checking installed heights or spring pressure and yet have no issue. The retainers are machined within +/- .002" and stock GM heads have an installed height around +/- .005"
As far as too much pressure, we've run upwards of 200 lbs seat and 500 lbs open pressure on hydraulic roller combinations without an issue. Most of the boosted applications that we setup are shimmed to an installed height of 1.750 which yields about 170 lbs on the seat.
When the springs are put into operation they will initially lose some pressure which will reduce seat and open pressures.
We also offer .045" thick locators that increase the installed height by .015" if you're very concerned with your setup. I can swap these out at no charge.
Brian's customer service is the best out there. His knowledge of valve events and head design is why I went with him.
Last edited by Bama99z; Nov 28, 2013 at 07:54 AM. Reason: spelling
Cam damage is more likely with too little spring force, not too much spring force. Seat force is a function of installed height, it can be adjusted but in all honesty you numbers are too close to what you wanted to worry. Open force is a function of seat force and lift. Again, I wouldn't worry about an extra 17 lbs.
What I would do though is ditch the 5/16" OD pushrods and go with larger OD pushrods. Those will kill the cam, not the spring forces you are showing. Pushrod flex can cause a lot of damage itself.
What I would do though is ditch the 5/16" OD pushrods and go with larger OD pushrods. Those will kill the cam, not the spring forces you are showing. Pushrod flex can cause a lot of damage itself.
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Agreed with above and remember, springs don't really determine their installed height, the engine does. It seems it is common for them (various LS springs) to set up a little short.
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