Broken valve spring

[NvO]

After rebuilding my car for the last 5 years it broke a valve spring within 50 miles of droging it.

I bought the engine rebuild through eBay 5 years ago and cant contact the seller anymore.

The pistons used are unknown to me so i dont know static compression, engine parts i know :

1986-up 350 bored 030
Vortec heads 10239906
Edelbrock performer intake
650 CFM carb
1 3/4 primary headers

Current cam is a enginetech es1014r, 204 intake 214 exhaust at 0.50

Would like to change the cam for a better quality one, best a kit with cam lifters springs and locks

Any recommendations? I would like to change the springs with the heads on the car still anybody did this?

 

[CorkyE]

Comp Cams, and maybe some others, have an online tool that will help you select a cam. You can call Howards and speak to one of their tech guys, I've done that before.

You can change springs with heads on and in the car. Some use compressed air to keep the valves up. I lower the piston, put about 18" of cotton rope through the spark plug hole, and manually turn the engine to where the piston has the rope pushed up against the valves. If you search UTube, you fine several videos on this subject.

 

[tom3]

Replacing the springs is usually done with air in the cylinder - that I've seen. That cam is not much for performance for sure. Might have limits on valve lift with the heads if they have not been reworked. What transmission are you using? If the block has provisions for factory roller lifters that would really open up a lot of possibilities for a good street friendly cam with good performance.

 

[BonzoHansen]

Good time to go roller lifter

 

[NvO]

Ill look into converting to roller cam,

Perhaps somebody has experience with vortex heads and bigger lift cams
I would like to use :

Cam COMP Cams 12-240-4, 226/[email protected] , .480/.489 lift
Locks Comp 648-17 , 7° 11/32
Retainers Comp 787-16
Springs GM 12499224 Beehive

I was told with these springs/retainers there would be sufficient seal/retainer clearance. Perhaps somebody can conform?

 

[1980RS]

Ill look into converting to roller cam,

Perhaps somebody has experience with vortex heads and bigger lift cams
I would like to use :

Cam COMP Cams 12-240-4, 226/[email protected] , .480/.489 lift
Locks Comp 648-17 , 7° 11/32
Retainers Comp 787-16
Springs GM 12499224 Beehive

I was told with these springs/retainers there would be sufficient seal/retainer clearance. Perhaps somebody can conform?

Nothing wrong with that cam. Did you cut down the guide bosses before putting the valve seals on to see how much retainer to guide clearance you have? if not I would get that done first. I had one set of 906 Vortec heads that would take no more then .455 lift and just hit the guides. I run 062's with spring pockets cut and a milled down the guide bosses .100 tons of clearance. My cam is the Elgin 1165P .488 and .510 lift more so on the intake side as I run 1.6 rocker on the intake side. Spin my 406 to 6200 with no busted anything. Beware that GM and comp has had some crappy valve spring issues in the past, that's why I do not use comp anything now.

 

[tom3]

Valve guide clearance is covered early in this huge Vortec info thread:

Vortec Cylinder Heads: The Definitive Guide

Guys, Dave "Dirt" Reynolds has suggested that we devote some space on the message board to Vortec heads. Cylinder heads are arguably the most important link in the "power chain", so it is certainly worth its own dedicated area for discussion.

nastyz28.com

 

[sandlapper]

Just because a kit has matched valvetrain parts ... that isn't the end ... YOU must either have an auto machine shop measure & set up valvetrain clearances or DIY. Many here will help guide you thru it once you commit to DIY.

Seems you may have a roller-ready block ... as said, good time to go with a roller cam.
Look at this selection of 4 step-nose USA billet steel roller cams; all 4 right at $270.

Summit Racing™ Pro SBC Camshafts - Free Shipping on Orders Over $99 at Summit Racing

Find Summit Racing™ Pro SBC Camshafts and get Free Shipping on Orders Over $99 at Summit Racing! Are you looking for a great Made-In-America hydraulic roller cam for your Small Block Chevy? Summit Racing's new Pro SBC cams are affordable and utilize the latest lobe design technology. Starting...

www.summitracing.com

I haven't bothered to look up the comp cam, but most likely it's made on cast iron core, while likely selling for more than summit's more preferable ($270) steel piece. Just a name.

 

[sandlapper]

A drop-in valve spring-retainer kit from Alex's Parts can be a good option which does Not require any machinework. Also, google "ghetto grind" for a DIY job using aftermarket "Z28" springs on Vortec heads.

It's an old wives tale that you MUST ALWAYS machine the guides/guide boss ... wrong. All depends on choice of retainer and springs. Some folk didn't confirm if their valve stem seals are firmly/correctly seated ... doing that may yield a lot more retainer-to-seal clearance.

 

[NvO]

Thanks for your reply,
I Will look into what it takes to covert to roller