Time to vent...

In my experience, this is the problem with the high performance automotive industry; No one can admit it when they make a mistake! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="gr_images/icons/mad.gif" />

WTF can't Comp just come out and say, "sorry guys, there may have been some defective springs shipped out and we will compensate you for your damages."

That would look a lot better than trying to deny that broken 918s even exist. Going this route I believe they will lose even more money than compensating the individuals with damage.

You don't have to read this next part because it is just more examples of my experiences with high performance automotive industry. But, it does show a common theme in that none of these hicks could admit it when they made a mistake. Always trying to blame you or someone else.

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I once spent $8,000 on a stroker motor that spun the #6 rod bearing and snapped the rod while on the way home on the highway. This same company claimed they had never seen anything like it and they would build me a new motor. A few days after they drop off my Jeep with the "new" motor it's running terrible. A compression test showed low compression on #6. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" /> The company denied everything, trying to convince me that I WAS THE PROBLEM! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="gr_eek2.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="gr_images/icons/mad.gif" /> A year later it snapped the crank shaft while driving...on the highway again! They tried to claim I over revved the engine...in an automatic Jeep with the stock rev limiter! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" /> Luckily my dad convinced them to send a new crank shaft and we never talked to them again.

With this same Jeep, I went and had it dynoed...on 5 cylinders! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="gr_images/icons/mad.gif" /> The owner of the dyno shop had checked one plug to see if that was perhaps the reason the motor was a POS. Well, he never put the plug wire back on the distributor. When I backed off the dyno and my SES light was on and the motor was shaking, we found the unattached plug wire...and he tried to tell me that I must have done it! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="gr_eek2.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="gr_images/icons/mad.gif" />

One of the vendors of this site (whose name I shall not mention out of courtesy) once sold me a McLeod clutch with incorrect installation instructions. Well, because I had my dealer install it, I had to have them reinstall it the correct way. The vendor refused to help me in any way...claiming that it was the manufacturers fault even though I bought the part from HIM!
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While I have had 3 bad experiences, I could name about 7 good experiences with companies. There are some great companies out there so I am in no way trying to claim they are ALL bad. But 7 out of 10 is not a high success rate. So be very careful who you give your money to. If it's someone who claims he is the best and he can do no wrong, I'd stay away from the egotistic SOB.

Done venting now. I just wish there was more professionalism in the high performance automotive industry.

<small>[ August 27, 2002, 11:45 PM: Message edited by: PewterZ28 ]</small>

 

Well after seeing all of this crap I may just go ahead and put out another $500 for the dual spring GTP heads instead of the single 918's. $500 now is a lot cheaper than a whole new motor in 1000 miles.

 

I've been considering double springs now for the past few days. Seems kinda silly to have to use double springs for a measly .558" lift cam (T1). Been wanting to buy an extra set of heads for porting, so machining them for double springs won't be so bad. Anyway, maybe someone should send Comp some links to these recent threads of 918s breaking? This would at least be considered some type of proof.

 

Hey mikey,

Long time no talk. Doing SEMA and/or PRI this year? Quick question for you and all others with broken 918's. What was the installed height, seat pressure and open pressure on the setups with the failures? I would think that the cars with the heads setup off the vehicle should be fine, but guys going to .550"+ lift cam only installs and using the 918's would be tempting things as the 918 needs 1.800" installed height minimum to get near .600" lift. Some stock heights are 1.740"-1.750" and this combined with lets say a .575" lift lobe will probably fail. In mikeys case I would think they were done off the car and setup proper.

If it is a batch issue, nothing will prevent it obviously, but a little more investigating is needed for me to condemn these things yet. I am a Comp dealer, but not trying to defend them at all. Just trying to gather all the info I can on this for me and you all.

Later,

Mike

 

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif"> <img border="0" alt="[pimp]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_pimp.gif" /> I just wish there was more professionalism in the high performance automotive industry. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif"><img border="0" alt="[guns]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_guns.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[pimp]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_pimp.gif" />

It's like russian roulette buying performance parts these days. When something goes wrong you're dead. It's also like buying something from the underground market.

 

SUE them!!! They ought to be responsible for that, you'd win a court case...I ought to know I am in a legal studies program in school.

 

It looks like this is a ticking time bomb. <img border="0" alt="[Banging Head]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_banghead.gif" /> Sooner or later someone will step up to the plate and make some manly springs.(No pun intended) I am hoping that Joe is right and that if u make it to 1000 miles they will be ok. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" /> I have no more money for engine parts if this thing goes. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="gr_images/icons/mad.gif" />

<small>[ August 28, 2002, 12:33 PM: Message edited by: Bear ]</small>

 

I would seriously think that someone should sue Comps for this. Last year it was the 941s and now this year it's the 918s... what gives??? This should not be happening considering all the issues surrounding these things.

Get a class action law suit up and running... I'm sure your engines will be taken care of after that.

Scott

 

At the very least, hit them where it hurts. Spread the word to your friends and co-workers about how they don't standing behind their product and buy from a different company.

 

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Bear:
<strong>I have no more money for engine parts if this thing goes. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="gr_images/icons/mad.gif" /> </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Dude I am so with you here!!!

 

So are they issuing a recall on these springs? I have a new set and am concerned about which batch it came from. There are other factors which may cause spring breakage:

* Set Up Height
* Valve Lift
* Valvetrain Condition
* Roller Hydraulic Lifter Bleeddown rate
* Lobe acceleration rate (Ramp steepness)

I believe there may be harmonics involved that we cannot see and that possibly Comp has not tested with all the different cams that are used.

I think Comp also needs to do an examination on the failed springs, metallurgy, micro graphs, surface analysis, whatever it takes, to solve this problem. Then again, asking a single 1.25" diameter spring to handle .600" lifts and 350 lb open pressures is asking alot.

Possibly a better alternative is for Comp to develop a 1.44" diameter single beehive spring that could use a standard 1.25 diameter retainer. This spring should be adequate for .600" lift and 350 lb open pressures. Valvetrain weight would increase slightly but the added durability would be worth it. For longterm durability, I would limit all 1.25" diameter single springs to .530" lift and 300 lbs open pressure.

Just my .02.

Paul J.

 

I have lost a motor and a set of ARE stage II heads on my 2000 T/A because of the pure crap that comp cams calls a "Suitable LS1 Valve Spring replacement good up to .625 lift" I will NO longer purchase comp cams products. Im currently building my new engine with stock heads (thats all i can afford, im only 17 years old and pay for the car too) My stock heads are down at MTI right now getting re-valved and done up with ISKY dual coil springs, locks and retainers for somewhere in the niehgborhood of $500.

Just my 2cents,
Alden

 

Quoting Paul..

"So are they issuing a recall on these springs? I have a new set and am concerned about which batch it came from. There are other factors which may cause spring breakage:

* Set Up Height
* Valve Lift
* Valvetrain Condition
* Roller Hydraulic Lifter Bleeddown rate
* Lobe acceleration rate (Ramp steepness)"

Not to make an argument here, BUT, all this listed criteria was supposed to be taken into account at the design / manufacturing time?!

* set up height, (there advertised drop in at stock 1.800)
* valve lift, (there supposedly good for .600 lift)
*Roller bleed down hydrolic re-coil rate ( R&D on there end)
*aggressive lobes (they grind the cams and should test them on there worst case scenario XR-E and what have you.)

just my thoughts.

 

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by JPR:
<strong>Quoting Paul..

"So are they issuing a recall on these springs? I have a new set and am concerned about which batch it came from. There are other factors which may cause spring breakage:

* Set Up Height
* Valve Lift
* Valvetrain Condition
* Roller Hydraulic Lifter Bleeddown rate
* Lobe acceleration rate (Ramp steepness)"

Not to make an argument here, BUT, all this listed criteria was supposed to be taken into account at the design / manufacturing time?!

* set up height, (there advertised drop in at stock 1.800)
* valve lift, (there supposedly good for .600 lift)
*Roller bleed down hydrolic re-coil rate ( R&D on there end)
*aggressive lobes (they grind the cams and should test them on there worst case scenario XR-E and what have you.)

just my thoughts.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">well said! I didnt measure my install height because as i was told they are stock drop in replacements!!!! <img border="0" alt="[judgement]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_judge.gif" />

and im sure many of the "cam only" community hasnt either, but do they have any breaks? All of these are recent. If you had seen my break you would know its not a normal break. This was a flaw in the spring <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="gr_images/icons/mad.gif" />

yeah crap happens, but ive got 20 or so friends running around with these 918's with no probs so far. They didnt measure the height of their's either.

Now the guys that have gotten them all within the last 2-4weeks seem to be the ones breaking and all under 200 miles.

now ive got 700 miles on the suckers so hopefully the bad ones have already broke. But comp could atleast send a new batch out asap to us that have issues. But what is Mikey supposed to do when he has NO MOTOR?? It wasnt his fought that Comp gave him a POS spring!! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="gr_images/icons/mad.gif" />

 

did/will someone find out the batch #'s that any or all of these broken ones fall into?? On my box there are numbers but??? How can we see if there is at least a way to rule out some springs..

 

The "batch" thing is a rumor. Comp. would not confirm this.

 

mike is right you have to rule out improper setup before you blame comp but it also could be a problem with the springs. i asked last week on another thread about the installed height and pressures on his failure and got no reply.

Jay

 

Hey Bear nice meeting you yesterday at Sears, Hicksville. I agree. I am in the planning stages of a cam install and now I am afraid to pull the trigger because I don't know what springs to trust. I thought COMP was in the forefront of valetrain components. The way they have handled this problem shows me they cannot be trusted. Money is low as well. What to do?... what to do?? <img border="0" alt="[Banging Head]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_banghead.gif" />

 

Jay, here is your reply: Set up anywhere from 1.775 to 1.800 depending on the cam profile. We measure for coil bind and hold a minimum of 0.080.

Mike, good to talk to you again. See you soon.

Mikey

 

***NEWS FLASH***

Just received this email from Comp Cams, after I asked about the reliability of the "918" springs that I just bought. At first they denied any knowledge of recent failures, at which point I used Ron & Harold's names, and asked the technician to check w/ "Red" Obert, their Warranty Manager. Following is their response:

***

Gary,

I did speak with "Red" Obert, our warranty manager and he did say that there were
some isolated problems with the "918" spring. He said that we are looking into the
problem and have removed these from the shelf. We do have a new shipment from a
different batch due in within the next week. You can return those to us for
replacement or you can return to your parts dealer for a refund. I apologize for any
inconvience that this may cause you.

Thank You

David McCarver

***

I am planning to ship them my unopened box of springs, and get a new set.