ill start with my current set up i have a 97 SS A4 3.23's 275/40/17's LT1. i have ramair with a K&N filter, descreened my MAF, 1LE intake elbow, airfoil, stock throttle body w/ TB bypass, i did the FRA mod to get cooler air into the engine bay, i have a 160 stat, BBK UD pulley, taylor 8mm wires, new coil, new denso iridium plugs, new AC Delco o2's with extensions, i have 1 3/4" jet hot longtubes coated with no emissions, no EGR, no AIR, block off plates on both of the holes in the back of the intake, i have a custom 2 1/2" primaries into a 3" collector Y-pipe, i have a 3" cut out after the Y between it and the 3" custom flowmaster catback, i just put in the OBD1 conversion with custom tune for my mods from PCM4LESS with an LT4 KM.
so far that all the mods i have.

now with the tune i have a higher rev limiter and higher shift points and topping out 2nd right before i shift to 3rd like the last 200rpm or so at like 6000 or so around 80-85ish i hear the valves start to float but its only for millisecond. i still have a totally stock valvetrain no cam no new spring no RR's no nothing all stock.

what i was wondering is how bad is it on my motor to float a valve just a little. since everything in the valvetrain is stock i think i have a little play before i hit the top of the piston and bend a valve right.

just curious of what to do.

 

Well, first of all I think you will crack a piston before you bend a valve. But in all honesty your valvefloat is only costing you HP. I don't think its too bad on your motor right now.
Make your next mod some 1.6rr's and do the valvesprings at the same time. Problem solved.

 

well that what i wanted to hear and my next mod is a hotcam kit so it should be too long before the problem is solved. but i just wanted to make sure i was gonna blow my engine up or anything since ive never had valve float before. thanks

 

The first time you float the valves, you break down the integrity of the spring. It will then float at a lower rpm next time out. It will progressively get worse and worse. The stock springs are inadequate for even a stock cam, especially with high mileage.

 

Actually from what i have heard you will still have the same problem if you rev the hot cam kit. The springs that come with aren't strong enough either.

 

Valve-float is pretty bad. That's why there are rev limiters.

 

Must buy Comp 987 Springs Now!! Seriously though the Hotcam springs are pretty wimpy and not that much beefier then stock. Get another aftermarket valve spring with higher spring constants and stronger integrity.

 

Hot cam springs are fine to 6200 or so. Start foraying into 6500+ and they will not hold up.