Does anyone have any experience with the Crane Aluminum LT-1 spring and retainer kit? I kind of want to replace the locks and retainers and the whole 9 yards. That's why i want a complete kit. I plan on running a XE 230/236 with Pro-mag NSA 1.6 RR's with stock valves (heads are getting P&P next winter). Would this kit be able to hold up allright, or should i go with some dual springs that i have seen some people run?

If anyone has any experience with this kit let me know, or if you have any other suggestions that would be much appreiciated.

thanks
trav

 

I don't know about this kit specifically, but I stay away from aluminum retainers. I know one person who got aluminum shavings in the oil and another person had one fail. People who run them on race cars throw them away after a couple of races. Go with at least Chrome Moly. I'm running Titanium, which will out last my engine. I am using Chrome Moly 10 degree locks. Cost of Titanium retainers is about $120.

 

If I had to guess you're talking about Crane's spring kit for aluminum LT1 heads (p/n 10308), which uses steel retainers.

The biggest problem with these is the shims they expect you to use for seats. They do not positively locate the springs on the head so they have a habit of "dancing" around. You can get "real" seats to work with these but they do not come in the "kit".

I ran the Crane's for a while. I switched to CMotorsports springs when they offered me a hell of a deal to try them out. So far I'm sold! The CM springs are lighter, cheaper, and simpler to install. They've survived 6500 RPM with my XE cam on many occasions now

Unfortunately there's not too many other options out there unless you machine the heads.

 

i've actually had a few people tell me about the valvetrain parts from cmotorsports. I think i am going to give them a call and have them help me out with what locks and retainers i should get along with their springs. Thanks for the replies.

trav