Setting up Heads
Setting up Heads Got my heads back from the machine shop. The lt4 rr's look like they clear the locks and retainers well! I have arp 3/8 screw in rocker studs. Should i put any thread locker on the threads? Should i measure for spring install height considering i dont know what it is? I told the napa machine shop to set them at 1.800 but have no paperwork to verify that they did it correctly. Im using pac 1218 springs good to .600 lift. The cam im using has .536 lift. Am i okay for avoiding coil bind?
Last edited by 350 groundpounder; Sep 2, 2016 at 10:27 PM.
TECH Veteran
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 4,985
Likes: 112
stock head spring height is 1.750. The machine shop would machine the spring pocket down slightly for a 1.800 installed spring height and use shims under the spring locator if necessary to get a 1.800 height. If the machine shop did not machine the spring seats down than the springs may be installed slightly shorter. With the cam lift you have no big deal IMHO as you have .600 max lift springs so you won't see coil bind. If your cam was .585 lift...you would be close if not at coil bind with the spring installed slightly shorter.
your seat and open spring pressure will be slightly more than spec but again no big deal with the over all combo.
If you want to know for sure you can use a spring height tool to measure what your springs are really at since the heads are off the car. Easier to work on.
On the ARP stud install, use "thread sealer" (generally the white stuff), not loc-tite. 50 Ft Lbs TQ
your seat and open spring pressure will be slightly more than spec but again no big deal with the over all combo.
If you want to know for sure you can use a spring height tool to measure what your springs are really at since the heads are off the car. Easier to work on.
On the ARP stud install, use "thread sealer" (generally the white stuff), not loc-tite. 50 Ft Lbs TQ
Installed height really depends on the shims/locators/retainers (and sometimes locks) you use. For example, the installed height of the Crane 10308-1 kit on stock AL heads comes out to around 1.850-1.875.
You need a valve spring micrometer to really know. You can get a Proform tool on eBay for around $40-50.
And if your heads are unported then there's no need for thread sealer on rocker studs. All holes should be blind.
You need a valve spring micrometer to really know. You can get a Proform tool on eBay for around $40-50.
And if your heads are unported then there's no need for thread sealer on rocker studs. All holes should be blind.
Trending Topics
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine
Verdad Gallardo
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin
Verdad Gallardo
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo And yeah, I like permatex #2. I use it on head and water pump bolts all the time.
TECH Resident
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 926
Likes: 18
From: Central Texas
I machined down the seats and tapped for screw-in studs,milled out the pushrod holes, enlarged the spring pockets, and turned down and shortened the valve stems to improve the lift capabilities. pushrod guides installed also. Rector Seal works good too.