Are stock retainers adequate to run with 918 springs. The tech @ summit said they would work. After looking at them closely, I dont really like what I see in the way of the retainer locating the top of the spring. It doesnt look like it has enough contact area under the retainer, nor does it do a very good job of centering the spring. Im in a bind now as the car was supposed to be done tomorrow and Im not sure. Anyone running stock retainers please advise?

 

Anybody? I need to get this thing back together today!

 

No, use the correct retainer and 7 degree locks. They are cheap. The beehive retainer is much smaller and will stay centered on the spring. The only stock part you can use is the spring seat (part that touches the head).

 

I don't see how the stock retainer would fit the beehive very well? Definitely get the 918 retainers.

Are you sure the tech @ summit knows these are beehive springs?

The Comp Cams tech told me the stock locator would work with the 918s when I installed them. After looking closely at the fit of a 918 on a stock LT1 locator, I wish I had purchased the 918 locators. The spring doesn't make flush contact all the way around on a stock locator.

If you do use 918 locators, you'll need to get .05 offset valve stem locks because the 918 locator is thicker than the stock one.

Thomas.

 

combination motorsports website says they'll work with stock retainers on an LT1. The comp cams tech told me I need the 787 retainers, but they also want you to buy more stuff bottom line. I hate this ****, why cant people just tell you what you need to know instead of trying to sell you stuff you may not really need. Anybody know the bottom line here? The comp tech mentioned nothing about offset locks though. So I did some more research, and the retainers summit offers for this spring say one for ls1 engines and one for non ls1 engines, but the specs are the same as far as inner and outter spring diamters. So whats the difference? Would I be able to use stock LS1 retainers on these 918 springs? I just really want to know WHAT the differences are here so I can understand WHY I "need" these retainers as opposed to using the stock LT1 or LS1 retainers. Especially since CMmotorsports lists the stock retainers as compatible.

 

Don't do it!!!

Use the correct parts as recommended by the spring mfg.

 

I just talked to Bret about this very topic via pm not more than an hour ago. He told me with the beehive springs the best bet would be to run the correct locators, steel retainers, and +.050 locks.

 

whats wrong with the stock locators? They seem to be ok, or do they create an issue when used with the comp retainers? You wouldnt happen to have the part numbers for these components would you? Are those 7* locks and retainers? Are the locators the same height as stock?

 

I used the stock locaters with the 918 beehives, but I chamfered and dressed the bottoms of my springs very slightly for a perfect fit. If you do not, they won't sit flush due to the radius of the locater where it touches the sharp edge of the spring ID, and that's very bad.
I also used the comp 7 deg locks & comp 7 deg retainers for non-ls1 application. I also had to use shims under the locaters to get my pressures and heights where I wanted. I recommend you get all matched parts and forget about it rather than piecing it together and worrying about it.

 

One of the reasons to use the 918's is because you use the smaller retainers to cut down on the weight. Trying to use the larger retainers sort of defeats the purpose. Plus they won't be 100% right. So as stated above use the correct ones by Comp Cams.

 

The Stock retainers will work on LS1 applications. On LT1 applications you will need to use the 795-16 10* retainers or the 787-16 7* retainers with the appropriate locks.

I will fix that error on our site today. If you have any questions please pm, email or call us.



Thank you

Sam