Im gonna get LT4 valve springs for my lt1, i found some for $37 but its just the springs and i can get the spring caps for $15. What else will I need and is this a good price. Maybe theres somewhere else i can get them from?
Thanks

 

you'll need seats, retainers, locks, and shims

any reason you're getting the LT4 springs? 1.6 rr's I assume?

in all honesty spend a little more and buy a better spring, so if and when you do a cam you won't have to do it again if you put in anything bigger than a hotcam. doing springs while the heads are on the car is a PITA

 

LT4 springs are a nice reliable inexpensive option for a stock cam with 1.6s.

I would NOT go spending more money on something else ahead of time because why half wear out good aftermarket springs on a stock cam before you ever put in a cam that needs them.


I think the stock locks and seats will work.

 

The stock LT1 locks, seats, and retainers will work with the LT4 springs. But, I have heard the LT4 retainers are a bit lighter.

 

yea i'm putting 1.6's in it

 

will I hurt the stock cam if I run too heavy of a spring? and whats a good kit to buy other than the LT4's. Some day I want to change the cam but i'm not sure when that time will be, what do ya think I should?

 

No you wont hurt the stock cam, it is better made/machined than some of the aftermarket stuff guys pretend is good.

On a stock cam like I said these are perfect. Why spend extra on different springs only to have them half worn out by the time you swap cams? Once you get into aftermarket cams springs can become a maintainance item, some guys use irresponsibly spec'd parts and need to change every 2-5K miles, other use better matched parts and need to check them every 15K or longer.

 

yea i'm just getting the lt4's for now, if i upgrade the engine later then i may change them.

 

Can anyone explain to me what the shims are for?
and also is there a legit reason why i would want the lighter LT4 retainers compared to my stock LT1 retainers?

 

GM lists the valve seats as shims, which your stock seats will work for the LT4 springs. But, you may need valve spring shims to get the correct spring installed height.

 

oh man.... now i gotta go research spring install height.

 

You can use the LT4 springs with stock seats comfortably without buying a valve spring micrometer. In other words, don't sweat it.

 

thats good cause I've been confusing the heck outta myself trying to figure that out......someone wanna give me a quick lesson as to why the springs would need to be shimmed?

 

i have a similar setup to what you might be getting into: crane 1.6 s/a rr with lt4 valve springs/retainers/seats. the stock retainers and hardware will work fine with the lt4 spring.

 

I run lt4 springs with a Crane 227, and 1.52 CC rockers in my 93Z with no problems..