I'm thinking about getting my stock LT1 heads worked this winter. Nothing drastic, I was wondering at that point can I use LT4 valves in my LT1 heads?

 

Matt, yes and it's a good cheap way to get lightweight valves in your heads. Which is a great thing. Hopefully you want to turn some RPM with them.

Bret

 

well, i didn't know they were any different, but you can pick up a nice set of aftermarket valves for a good price as well. you don't have to buy ferreas or anything, but you can get good ones for a good price. since redoing the valves contains a valve job, why not have them open it up to a 2.0/1.57 setup. the shop can probably get you a good deal on valves as well... although, 2.0/1.57 valves are not as cheap as 2.02/1.60's but anything over 2.0/1.57 will require new valve seats. it's probably worth it to buy some aftermarkets, but look into it. i don't know much on lt4 valves.

 

The LE2 heads I just got back have the CompCams LS1 beehive springs and LT4 valves.
When I told Lloyd Elliott that I wanted a lightweight valvetrain for my old LT1 heads he specified these valves. I was pleased.

I've been running the LT1 to LT4/Hotcam conversion for 3 years at up to 6700rpm and the valvetrain hasn't let me down yet. I expect the same from my new (soon to be installed) setup.

 

Yeah, sometimes Lloyd has a set of those valves laying around. You should have a great setup to over 7000rpm if you don't have a cam with some crazy *** aggressive lobes on it. If you teamed that up with a LE2 or LE3 cam it will be a killer.

Bret

 

Brett, an LE2 cam is sitting on the counter. Hopefully I'll have everything installed by next weekend.

 

a lot of your success is probably because of the beehive springs. they are very nice springs, and much easier on lifters. i have them in my setup from bret and its a very nice setup. i have stock valves with a 3 angle valve job. i guess i should have looked into lt4 valves, but the stockers are doing me just fine.

 

The LT4 valves are premium. Hollow stemmed intake and exhaust (with the exhaust being partially sodium filled for better heat transfer).

They are very light. And my lack of failures is due to the stock LT4 valvetrain. According to my sources you can run 6800rpm all day long with it (on a Hotcam).

Now that I've a more demanding bumpstick to be installed (LE2 cam/heads), the "beehives" looked like a good combination considering the .600" net lift with the light LT4 valves. This allows for very reasonable spring pressures and hopefully a longer lived valvetrain.

 

Dan that setup should be stable to well over 7000rpm. That's dam good for a hyd roller, the last thing you should run into is valve float. Hell I hope the bottom end is ready for all of that!

Bret