So the 1.83 minus the .045 is my available spring height?
Am I doing something wrong?

 

I just put the installed height mic over the steel spring seat to get my installed height.

 

I put the spring micrometer over the seat as well, but maybe the seal portion won't allow it to bottom properly. As for you numbers, you are getting around 1.785. I seem to recall that is right about where my stock heads came out, I do remember they were less than 1.800" installed height. Any spring shims will then sit on top of the one piece seat/seal assembly.

 

[QUOTE=slogo;19414258
So the 1.83 minus the .045 is my available spring height?
Am I doing something wrong?[/QUOTE]

No, that is not correct. Spring height is the distance between the retainer and whatever the spring is sitting on. You have 1.830" of available height.

IIRC, the installed height for any spring is binding height + 0.050" + lobe lift.

It does not have to be 1.800". That is the standard number used for spring pressure, so you can compare one spring to another.

 

Not so sure, I believe he is measuring to the bare head and subtracting his valve spring seat thickness because the seal/seat will not fit inside the micrometer. At least that was my understanding.

 

Vettenuts you are correct, at first I had the mic collapsed all the way down, it would
not sit flush due to seal hitting inside of mic, so i removed seal and measured.
After messing with it I found out after I opened up the mic some, it would clear the seal
so then I measured with seals on, lots easier and more precise I am guessing.
My main concern was, I thought it needed to be installed at 1.8 and I was a little short,
Guy that sold springs to me from Cam Motion said they were drop in springs, so I am
assuming (hoping) that little amount is not a concern.
The Heads are bone stock, no milling or valve job, so I'm just going with it.

 

I have never had stock heads come out at 1.800", they all come out right around where you measured. The 1.800" is the number provided by the spring companies for a standard measurement of spring force. Some provide spring stiffness, other don't and if it is not provided than the 1.800" number can be used along with the compressed value to compute stiffness.