Phil99TA

I found out the hard way that 918 retainers don't fit the 11/32 valve stem that are in my ARE Stage 2 heads. I'm getting some serious valve float and I need to install better springs ASAP. I tried getting in touch with Nick from ARE but he is pretty busy and I haven't heard back from him yet. What are my options here? Do I have to machine the heads for dual valve springs?

Richie Carbone

iTrader: (3)

It sucks but the only thing to do is sent the heads up to Nick and have the double springs installed, then you will never have to worry about having the right spring even with a real aggressive cam. I am in the same situation as you. The valves Nick uses are standard small block valves. When I get ready to swap cams I will send my heads to Nick for the upgrade and have piece of mind.

There isn't a retainer that will work with the valves we have and the 918's.

Good luck.

<small>[ April 30, 2002, 09:16 AM: Message edited by: Richie Carbone ]</small>

Imperator

???!

I have year-old ARE Stage 1 heads with REV stainless valves in them; I recently had a 941 spring collapse on me using the Ti retainers. I just had the springs swapped out for 918s using stock retainers and they seem to fit fine! I have no valvefloat issues whatsoever; using a TR 224 cam with 7.400" Crane pushrods. It makes power to 6500RPM.

Nick Agostino

Sorry phill, I just saw your e-mail tonight. The older stage 2 heads did have the 11/32 stems(all the current ones have the 5/16 stems). The best thing to do if the heads are off is to put a double spring on, if they are still on the car just install a set of K-750's; I have some on the shelf. They are a direct replacement for the 941's and have the same pressure.

If you want to go to the double springs send them up and we will do the labour for free, just pay for the parts!

Talk to you soon

FAST99Z

Nick,

I bought my Agostino stage 2 heads and cam setup a year ago. Tom Izzo at Speed Inc is puting in the replacement 918 springs and Ti retainers next week. Which valve stems do I have the 11/32 or the 5/16? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="gr_eek2.gif" /> I want this to work right!

CHRISPY

Your Stage 1 heads use a different valve.
Cheers,
Chris

FAST99Z

Nick, I want the 918 springs but my ARE stage two heads (purchased a year ago) seem to have (??) the 11/32 valve stems. What do you suggest?

Robert Wenig
Schaumburg Illinois

Bob2of3

iTrader: (11)

Are double springs really needed for the Thunder cam?? To me that would cause unwanted stress to the valvetrain.

LAter <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

Jason99T/A

iTrader: (21)

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Bob2of3:
<strong>Are double springs really needed for the Thunder cam?? To me that would cause unwanted stress to the valvetrain.

LAter <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" /> </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I have been using the 918s w/ great success with my Thunder cam(s). I spin the motor to 6800 on a regular basis with no issues to speak of.

Nick Agostino

Yes, the k-750's are a drop in part for the 941's. No machineing at all, they have had no issues that I know of.

Jackyl_30

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Nick Agostino:
<strong>Sorry phill, I just saw your e-mail tonight. The older stage 2 heads did have the 11/32 stems(all the current ones have the 5/16 stems). The best thing to do if the heads are off is to put a double spring on, if they are still on the car just install a set of K-750's; I have some on the shelf. They are a direct replacement for the 941's and have the same pressure.

If you want to go to the double springs send them up and we will do the labour for free, just pay for the parts!

Talk to you soon</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Do the K Motion K-750 springs have a history of failing like the Comp Cams 941? And they will drop in with no milling the spring socket on the head?

Jackyl_30

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Nick Agostino:
<strong>Yes, the k-750's are a drop in part for the 941's. No machineing at all, they have had no issues that I know of.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I am having a high boost 382 being built. We have been looking at the valve train very carefully and have determined that the 918 are inadequate for this application. I need something that is going to give me around 150 lbs closed and 400 open. The 941s we thought would do, but I have read and heard they have a tendency to fail. We also looked into your rev kit and use it with the 918s, but Barry said it would take at least 2 or 3 months before i would get it. So now we are looking into getting a double spring, but that would require milling the spring socket just a tad. Now the big question is what are the chances that it cuts into the water jacket? We are only talking no more than 80 thousands. These K-motion 750s look appealing because no milling is required. I am not familiar with K-motion and how well they perform. If you were doing the work and was going for the most optimal performance would you go with the double springs? Is there a big risk by doing it. I would hate to have my heads ruined. The good side to this is, if it happened to cut into the water jacket aluminum takes real well to a weld and it could be repaired with no problem. My scary thought is if we do cut and it appears it is ok, but then we don't know how thin it is now and we assemble everything and then later on it cracks right where we cut.

BTW-It really seems that GM made these heads egg shell thin.

<small>[ May 02, 2002, 01:20 PM: Message edited by: Jackyl_30 ]</small>

Nick Agostino

You need to go to the double spring for sure! We use a comp. spring with a special retainer(depending on the valve/lock combo). You can get 150+seat and 400+ open no problem.

With mach. the heads , we do it all the time as our stage 2's only come with double springs!

Let me know if you need any more help.

Jackyl_30

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Nick Agostino:
<strong>You need to go to the double spring for sure! We use a comp. spring with a special retainer(depending on the valve/lock combo). You can get 150+seat and 400+ open no problem.

With mach. the heads , we do it all the time as our stage 2's only come with double springs!

Let me know if you need any more help.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">We decided that the 987 springs will work for me. Thanks for your input.

Chris