Here we go with a late and last minute chime in on an otherwise
fine thread. I just could not resist. I have been playing around
with valve spring seat/locators for 2 months now. Although I am
looking at different springs, some of the other aspects of the
quest are similar.

You want the seat/locator to be equal to, or slightly larger than
the OD of the spring. Of course it needs to fit in the pocket. What
I have found is that you also need to look at the ID of the spring
and the OD of the seat/locator shoulder. You don't want too much
play and you don't want an interference fit either.

The best option is to find a seat/locator that meets all your needs
dimensionally except for OD. Grinding the OD down to fit your
application is relatively easy to do and does not compromise the
case hardening where you need it the most.

For example, I have gone with Manley 42437-16 seats to use with
the Comp 26915 beehive springs. The OD was machined down to
1.32" to work with stock heads. The L98 seats seem to work fine
with a single spring w/damper combination like the Isky 235-D.

I also support the idea of thicker is better. If you can achieve the
open and closed pressures that you desire with a thicker seat then
definately use it. Most of the aftermarket seats are in the .060"
range. Since the stock seats are in the .040" range the net effect
is a reduction in spring installed height. 1.76" instead of 1.78". If
you are happy with your spring pressures at 1.76" I would run the
thicker seat.

In the beehive example the 1.76" installed height puts you at 118
closed vs 111 @ 1.78", which is probably OK. As Don 97 SS pointed
out, the relationship of the top of the valve stem does not change,
or clearance from retainer to seal, only the spring installed height
is affected by playing around with seats or shims.

 

Heads would need to come off to grind/polish them to allow the 4771s to fit.

Ed_H said he used l98 spring seats with the 10308 crane spring kit, which wouldnt seem possible cuz the l98 seats are smaller than the OD of the springs???

 

Heads have to come off?! Perhaps we are talking about different things. I don't know about the size of 4771, but just don't use them if they are not a close OD (and ID) fit on the heads. I certainly wouldn't want to pull heads just to get a certain size seats/locators to fit. I think the Crane dual springs are plenty stout for most street applications.

BTW, I am amazed at how old this thread is and how it has evolved, but the I sure like the info and comments buds are making.

 

i didnt think heads had to come off, but thats what our local engine builder said...

 

I have a set of these springs on the shelf at home, awaiting rockers, pushrods, lifters and a cam, and I want to use them, but I don't want to have to remove the head to get them to fit right.

Anyone know of a spring seat that will work without having to work the head?

 

For the Crane dual springs: As has been discussed, most seats/locators are about .060" thick, we know the OD needs to fit a 1.46" OD spring and still fit in the spring pocket. Mine are about 1.50".

The only other measurement you need is the oem valve guide size for the ID. Once you get the oem ID then contact Comp for a set.

I just don't happen to have the measurement handy and didn't need it at the time I was doing the work (over a year ago) to install the Crane springs. I was over at a shop and was going through used sets and seeing what came close to fitting and then used them after I polished the OD a bit to get them to fit.

From my understanding and correct me if I am wrong, you want them to fit firmly but not where you have to have to snap them in place or use pressure. If so they may be too tight.

 

This thread is over 2 years old and the answer to your question would be on page 2 when I first answered Don 97 SS's question.

I'll save you the hassle of going back 2 pages to find it. Yes there is a spring seat that will work on stk heads without modification. Use CC #4785 spring seat fits the stk. heads with no machining and accomodates the Crane dual valve springs. My setup's been on 3+ years now still works like a champ with no problems. Make sure you set up your springs right and you're good to go.

Tony

 

How do you fit a 1.46" O.D. spring in a 1.35" spacer?
http://web.camaross.com/forums/showt...light=10185066

 

Curious...

Looking at Crane's site, the specs for the 99893 springs (included in the 10308-1 kit) are as follows:
outer spring OD: 1.460
inner spring ID: .803

And then looking at Comp's site, the specs for the 4785 locators are as follows:
locator ID: .570
locator OD: 1.55
spring OD: N/A
spring ID: .810

Now looking at Comp's site, the specs for 4771 locators are as follows:
locator ID: .570
locator OD: 1.55
spring OD: N/A
spring ID: .690

I would think it better to use the 4771's since they'll accept a spring that's smaller than the 4785's, especially since the springs in the 10308 kit are smaller than the 4785's call for.

I would also think that since the 4771's and 4775's have the same locator ID and OD, that they'd both fit on the head equally well.

 

Did you make mistake or something? First off, the 4775 spring locator is not the same as the 4771. The 4775 has an ID of 0.630", OD of 1.625" and accomadates a spring ID of 0.765". Maybe you meant the 4785's instead.

2nd, as mentioned before way back in this thread, my builder used the 4785 locators instead of those shims that come in the crane kit. After looking at the specs for the springs and the 4785 locators I see a difference of 0.007" (.810 -.803) so maybe he had to do a little grinding on the ID of the locator for the inner spring on the crane springs to fit. This part I don't know since I wasn't around when he was doing the install and he never mentioned that he had to do this step. Next time I see him I'll mention it and post here about what he actually did.

 

Yes, at the end of my post I mistakenly typed 4775 instead of 4785

 

I've just read this thread front to back... and I must say I"m more confussed than ever.

Typical.

 

I used the 10308-1 spring kit with NO MACHINING or modifications AT ALL and they are working fine.

 

Here is a tip.... don't skimp on springs. If you have to get the heads machined for bigger spring pockets do it!

-B