Springs
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From: POULSBO WA.
Springs Ok, tax time is here. Gonna do the 503 cam that i am going to have ground up by a company here in Washington. So i know there are better choices, but this is what i am going with. So my question is, i am going with the Pac 1218 springs i will put in new seals...but can i reuse the shims locks and retainers for these springs? Dont want to pull the heads and i dont know alot about this subject! Can someone give me the rundown on how to set these springs up on the car in my garage? I am concerned about proper spring height... No idea how to acheive this one. Have tools, not specialty tools other than a Bluepoint spring compressor. I know this is probably difficult to do but Thanks alot.
You know the 503 is hugely popular and you could probably get a real one used for cheap, there is one on camaroz28 dot com right now.
Far as swapping springs which spring tool do you have exactly?
Far as swapping springs which spring tool do you have exactly?
I got a set of springs, retainers and valve locks for $164 shipped from Howards. Also I'll be running a larger cam than you.
On a side note, not tring to hijack but what is the OD of stock springs?
On a side note, not tring to hijack but what is the OD of stock springs?
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From: POULSBO WA.
Bluepoint VST100. I have never heard a bad thing about Pa springs. Caprice i am sure u would say if they were a bad choice right? Can u reuse the stock locks and retainers and put the springs on and go? Or do i need to be really concerned with spring height...this would cause coil bind if not setup corectly right? Would there be any other issues?
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From: centerville, ohio
Bluepoint VST100. I have never heard a bad thing about Pa springs. Caprice i am sure u would say if they were a bad choice right? Can u reuse the stock locks and retainers and put the springs on and go? Or do i need to be really concerned with spring height...this would cause coil bind if not setup corectly right? Would there be any other issues?
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The Pac spring is the same as the Comp 26918 beehive. You cannot use the stock retainer but you can use the stock lock with the 787-16 retainer. However, using this setup with the stock seat will limit you to around .540 lift since the install ht is like 1.740". I think the lift of the 503 is .544" with 1.6's. I've ran this setup for years but only with the stock cam. Running the 648-16 lock puts it around 1.770" ht which should work for you. Another option is a 10* retainer and the plus .050" lock to give you more working height. You can use the Comp spring seat with this setup.
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From: POULSBO WA.
Thanks guys for the help! 1 10 degree retainer 2 plus .050 lock 3 comp spring seat 4 valve seals and add lt4 full roller rockers Pac 1218 springs cop 503 and HELLO 12's. Anything i forgot? Pushrods the same?
FWIW I used the Comp 977 spring from Lingenfelter in my 383 with a .568" lift cam. The new owner is going into this 17th year on these valve springs. When I sold the car last year we checked each spring, chasing what turned out to be a header gasket leak, and they were still within 1% of their specs. I'd say that's a fairly durable double spring. LPE says they are safe to .610" Here's a link to them in case you are interested.
http://www.lingenfelter.com/mm5/merc...gory_Code=C159
--Alan
http://www.lingenfelter.com/mm5/merc...gory_Code=C159
--Alan
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From: centerville, ohio
Well then, I guess all he needs is the 787-16 retainer. Pac lists the bind at 1.140" but I'm sure you have measured to arrive at the actual 1.080"
correct I've seen a few sets of 1218/1518s on a tester. my current springs list bind at 1.220 according to pac, one went 1.105 and not one of the set was above 1.120. Although it may not be a critical measurement on a CC503, it's only your benefit to run a beehive closer to bind for best spring life.
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From: POULSBO WA.
So to make the swap i can use the stock locks...787-16 retainers and some new valve seals and the Pac 1218? Would the 1518 do me a longer life or perfom better? And what about stock spring seat?
i'd really recommend machined 7 degree locks from comp, and their matching spring seats. 1218 or newer 1219 springs would be fine here. The nitrided springs really only offer benefit in a higher rpm, more aggressive lobe combination.
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From: centerville, ohio
Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2006
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From: POULSBO WA.
O crap i hope not!!! I have used the lt4 rollers for years and i love them!!! How will i know after i get it all together if i have to change them? Any recomendations for new ones? I thought about looking into the 1.7 scorpions i think you told me about. I should have room for them with this setup on the 503 yes?
