Double springs on a stock cam
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,148
Likes: 4
From: Gainesville, GA
Double springs on a stock cam My Z is closing in on the 90k mile mark fast, and i am getting a little worried about the pushrods and springs. I dont have the cash to do an entire cam swap yet, in a few years i will, but i was wondering if it was unheard of to do a pushrod and spring swap now, with the expectations of doing the cam later. I plan on using a cam that also uses 7.4 pushrods, and i want to go with a cam that needs double springs. Basically the PRC double spring kit. I cant imagine the stock cam killing the double springs in a hundred years. Should i just wait untill i have the time and cash to do the entire deal (oilpump, cam, springs, chain, etc), or can i go ahead with the hard core springs and harder pushrods now? I can see how this would benefit me now because a 98 thats been run fairly hard should have some worn out springs and more than likely some bent pushrods, especially with the miles i've got.
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 14,620
Likes: 17
From: BFE
I do not recommend duals on a stock cam. Especialy that you said "a few years".
For the time being, try to find a set of slightly used LS6 springs and keep your stock p-rods, unless they are bent.
For the time being, try to find a set of slightly used LS6 springs and keep your stock p-rods, unless they are bent.
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,148
Likes: 4
From: Gainesville, GA
Well, it might not be a whole two years. It might only be a year for all i know.
Does a double spring create too much stress for the stock internals? Or are y'all just concerned about the remaining spring life when the car finally gets a cam?
Does a double spring create too much stress for the stock internals? Or are y'all just concerned about the remaining spring life when the car finally gets a cam?
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 14,620
Likes: 17
From: BFE
Too much seat pressures for the cam lobe used. There is something called over springing but most poeple have a hard time understanding this.
The key is running the "right" spring within cam requirement range.
The key is running the "right" spring within cam requirement range.
You can pick up a set of LS6 springs for dirt cheap (around 50 bucks) and still use for factory retainers. Hell I have a set of fairly low milage LS1 springs that I cant get ride of. Regaurdless 90k miles isnt a reason to replace the stock springs that are used with the stock cam, id just leave em alone.
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Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,148
Likes: 4
From: Gainesville, GA
Well, i want to put some new push rods in reguardless. It would be kinda nice to throw some titanium retainers in and new seals. Maybe a set of ls6 springs would be the thing to do. Eventually im going to put something in the V3 range for the cam. But, like i said, its a little ways down the road. It just seems like i can hear something every now and then like valvetrain noise. I know 98s are bad for their pushrods and sometimes i wonder if i have a bent rod. I just want to do it for piece of mind. If the double springs are too much for me now, then ill scrap that idea and maybe just do ls6 springs. I do like how they're pretty much drop in as far as the way theyre made. Maybe i should look at the general for my answer. What i want to eliminate though is having too much $$ invested in stuff that wont work with the cam. The ls6 springs would be in the can as soon as i buy a cam.
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Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,148
Likes: 4
From: Gainesville, GA
...maybe a little too pricey for what my intended purpose is, especially since they'd be replaced with some doubles when i get a cam.
So, is there anything wrong with this?:
LS6 springs and TSP 7.4 pushrods?
$50 $100
I would really like to get some titanium retainers, but i doubt that there is a double spring that would use the same retainer as an ls6. TSP sells the PRC retainers for $150 that fit behives.
Also, how reliable is the compressed air method when changing springs?
So, is there anything wrong with this?:
LS6 springs and TSP 7.4 pushrods?
$50 $100
I would really like to get some titanium retainers, but i doubt that there is a double spring that would use the same retainer as an ls6. TSP sells the PRC retainers for $150 that fit behives.
Also, how reliable is the compressed air method when changing springs?
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,148
Likes: 4
From: Gainesville, GA
See thats just the thing, though. I feel like the way i drive it plus the weak stock 98 hardware doesnt match up. Id kinda like to spin my motor to its peak without worrying about bending a pushrod. Can you argue that a stock 98 spring with almost 90k is weaker than i want it to be?
I thought it was a general rule that with a 98 and 99 you ditch the ls1 intake manifold and valvetrain, and go with an ls6 intake and a new pushrods and springs, second to putting the license plates on it and driving it home.
I thought it was a general rule that with a 98 and 99 you ditch the ls1 intake manifold and valvetrain, and go with an ls6 intake and a new pushrods and springs, second to putting the license plates on it and driving it home.
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,148
Likes: 4
From: Gainesville, GA
Man i appreciate it, but if i am going to go thru the headache its going to be for some ls6 springs, or nothing at all until the cam can happen. But seriously, thats an awesome deal.
Originally Posted by KurtRardin
Man i appreciate it, but if i am going to go thru the headache its going to be for some ls6 springs, or nothing at all until the cam can happen. But seriously, thats an awesome deal.
I was in a similar boat as you about my car. I've smacked the rev limiter many times (though never mechanically overevving) and at 104k, thought for sure I had a couple pushrods that had gotten bent. I even bought LS6 springs so it wouldn't happen again (valve float causes pushrods to bend). After rolling them on a glass surface, they were all perfectly straight. As a result, I left the stock springs alone.
Jason
Jason
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,148
Likes: 4
From: Gainesville, GA
Well, maybe I'll scrap the whole idea and wait to get a cam, or put the $ toward my much needed gears and LS6 Intake. At least we've created a thread worthy of some good "searching"...if anyone does that anymore these days, lol.