I am going to be installing the complete LT4 hotcam kit on my camaro very soon.

My question is what springs are best for this cam?

I know this is something I should search for first. So I did on multiple forums. I never got any definative answers, except to not to use the springs that come with the kit because they are for the LT4's sodium filled (lower mass) valves.

Obviously there are alot of people who do use the LT4 .525" springs with little to no problems, so they say. But I still do not feel comfortable using them. I want a spring that is rated to at least .550" lift and has the proper spring rate for this cam with LT1 valves.

I have read in a couple of places that this spring has worked for a few people. Any thoughts? Would this spring work with the retainers that come with the kit?
http://www.thunderracing.com/catalog...mid=53&sid=367

Thanks for reading, any advice on what spring to look into is greatly appreciated.

Thankyou,
Ben

 

Usually when you buy this complet kit the cylinder heads come complete with the springs already installed and also i have a mild setup and not as much power as you will have and im currently using springs with a 600 lift i think that would be your ball park for those heads and you can also go on jegs performance and they have the lt4 hot cam kit and it describes their kit so just immitate thiers and youll be fine.

 

I will be installing this kit:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/NAL-12480002/

It does not include cylinder heads. The stock heads will stay on the car and will not be removed for the install.

 

IMO i would put some comp 918s or the equivelant pac springs im not sure what part number. Either will be more then enough spring plus will hold up to alot more agressive cams if you choose to upgrade down the road and dont have to waste your money twice on springs. LT4 springs as long as they new shouldnt have any issues unless you buy used then you dont know what your playing with. Cheap insurance but either of the above choices will be great for you.

 

I used the springs that came with the kit for several years, the car ran great with them. Missed a shift at the track right after making the time below, overreved it and two lifters on the #1 cylinder knocked the lifter retainer plate off. Didn't realize it happened till I left and drove home. The two lifters were spinning around sideways on the cam, grinding it down making a bad screaching sound. Anyway it just wrecked the cam and two lifters, motor was still fine.

Long story short, still running a hotcam but now have the crane 10308-1 spring kit.

 

GREG97Z, how did you arrive at choosing those springs?

What lift are they rated at?

Also, summit says their spring rate is 408 lbs./in. How much stiffer is this than the LT4 springs?

And Did you have to do any modifications to get them to fit on the stock heads?

Did you have to use shims?

 

I got them from summit, they were listed to work with stock lt1 heads. I liked that they were a complete spring kit, I didn't have to pick the shims, retainers and everything. I checked around this site and found that many people had succes with them. Don't recall the spring pressure but they were way stiffer than the lt4's. I was able to instal the lt4's myself on the car with a standard spring compressor. I had the heads off when I installed the cranes and they were so stiff my compressor wouldn't handle them, I didn't feel safe doing them mself. I did some minor p/p of the heads then I had the new valves & springs installed by Lloyd Elliot along with milling the heads. He set up the springs, I think he used shims. Wish I could have had him port them too but $ was tight. The only mod needed was to the roller rockers, had to do some very minor clearancing to the underside of the arms to not contact the spring caps.

 

Im hesitant to not go that road with the crane kit then because I dont really want to remove the heads if i dont have too. Nor do I want to have to modify the rocker arms if I dont have too. A spring rate of 408 lbs./in. seems alittle stiff also.

I'm wondering if the Comp 918's would work nicely. They seem to be commonly recomended on the forums for the hotcam.

It says they are for LSx engines but will the 918's work with the stock retaining hardware on a LT1? If not what would I need?

If anyone knows for sure, is this the right part number?:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/CCA-26918-16/


Thanks

 

You dont have to remove the heads to install the springs, I just had mine off because I was porting them anyway. If I had a good spring compressor I could have installed them myself. I tried using a cheap compressor from a parts store, it just wasnt made for springs that strong. I felt the same about the clearancing of the rockers before I got this kit. After I saw how very minor it was it didnt concern me. A quick touch with a dremel sanding wheel on either side of the underneath edges of the arm near the ends was all that was needed so they didnt contact the spring caps at full spring height. Not a very big deal really. I really dont think it would affect the strength of them at all it was so minor. Not sure how the 918's are, they may be a good alternative for you as well.

 

Personally, if I wasn't going to run the LT4 Springs, I'd probably go with Comp Cams # 26915. But then again if I was going to spend extra money on top of the hotcam kit (with the exception of a timing chain, gaskets, etc.) I'd probably go with a cc503.

 

I think your wasting money!! What rpm are you going to rev. this engine to? The kit is good for 7000rpm. This kit is designed for LT1/LT4 engines and does not specifically require the use of sodium filled valves.
If your not going to use the stuff from this kit, why not just sell it and start over???

P.S. I used this kit on a mod'ed L98. It worked very well.

 

You have to shim all springs. Not sure what you meant?

 

Like I said, Lloyd installed them for me. I gave him the 10308-1 kit to use, if there were shims then YES I'm sure he used them.