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#1
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Does it matter if my valve springs are 2 different brands?
OK. A little background: I ordered new valve springs, seals and some other parts for my all #s matching Formula 400. The company I ordered the Sealed Power outers from sold them in sets of 8. I placed two orders from the exact same ebay listing. One order arrived in full. The other was shipped as only 1 spring. I have tried to resolve this issue and will likely just end up getting a refund because I don't think they are able to fulfill their obligation.
The problem is that there must have been either a discontinuation or an interruption in production. Because, within the last 3 weeks it has gone from several reasonably priced sets of 8 available from different sources to no sets and mostly overpriced singles available. To complete the set as all sealed power, it looks like I will have to buy at least a couple singles which will be $8 or $10 each after shipping(the ones I was supposed to be getting were $26 for 8 at my door). It seriously burns my butt to pay that much more just because a company failed to meet their obligation. So I am wondering, will it make a difference if I finish making a set with Melling or some other reasonably priced springs that are available in sets? I know they are supposed to all be within certain specs based on the application regardless of who makes them. However, I have had enough junk parts over the years to know that is not often the case and that in mass production(especially foreign production) "probably good enough" is often the standard.
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"What the hell's wrong with freedom man? That's what it's all about." (Billy) "Oh yeah, that's what it's all about alright... but talkin about it and bein it, that's two different things." (George) Easyrider |
#2
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I'd use all of one brand on the intake, and the other on the exhaust. Intake valves are larger, hence heavier, so I'd probably use the stronger spring on the intake.
But then, MOST cams will have more lift on the exhaust, so I'd also check the amount of cushion I have before coil bind, and THAT may determine which goes on the intake and which to the exhaust. If the seat and open pressures check out, then I doubt the engine will care what box the springs came out of.
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'73 T/A (clone). Low budget stock headed 8.3:1 455, 222/242 116lsa .443/.435 cam. FAST Sportsman EFI, 315rwhp/385rwtq on 87 octane. 13.12 @103.2, 1.91 60'. '67 Firebird [sold], ; 11.27 @ 119.61, 7.167 @ 96.07, with UD 280/280 (108LSA/ 109 ICL)solid cam. [1.537, 7.233 @93.61, 11.46 @ 115.4 w/ old UD 288/296 108 hydraulic cam] Feb '05 HPP, home-ported "16" D-ports, dished pistons (pump gas only), 3.42 gears, 275/60 DR's, 750DP, T2, full exhaust My webpage http://lnlpd.com/home |
#3
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I would send all of those back for a refund and then get a set of Crower 68404-16 for a few more bucks.
__________________
Wernher Von Braun warned before his retirement from NASA back in 1972, that the next world war would be against the ETs! And he was not talking about 1/8 or 1/4 mile ETs! 1) 1940s 100% silver 4 cup tea server set. Two dry rotted 14 x 10 Micky Thompson slicks. 1) un-mailed in gift coupon from a 1972 box of corn flakes. Two pairs of brown leather flip flops, never seen more then 2 mph. Education is what your left with once you forget things! |
#4
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I would say no, it does not make a difference if they meet specs, but I would not use them.
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#5
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Your question doesn't have a one size fits all answer. Will the numbers matching engine start, run and drive with a bunch of mis-matched springs? Absolutely. It will do all these things, drive hundreds of miles, make the cruise-ins and little trips around the neighborhood. Will it produce proper OE or better power? run a road course without issue?, Not float the valves, Win a drag race? Impossible to say without measuring each spring for open and closed pressure, making sure the free height and wire diameter is the same and so forth. If you think about it, the only thing the spring has to do is close the valve. Almost any spring can do this. It all depends on your goals and objectives. If I owned it and it's next trip was to a collector car auction, I would throw 16 springs on it and go. If I wanted it to really perform up to potential, I would do as Steve suggested and buy an appropriate Crower, PAC, Ferrea, Comp, Manley, Isky, Lunati, K-Motion, or other quality replacement spring set.
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#6
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Quote:
__________________
"What the hell's wrong with freedom man? That's what it's all about." (Billy) "Oh yeah, that's what it's all about alright... but talkin about it and bein it, that's two different things." (George) Easyrider Last edited by justincampbell; 06-20-2019 at 11:43 AM. |
#7
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The biggest issue I would have would be not confirming that the two different springs used will atleast provide the needed minimum of 115 psi on the seat as a stock Cam with its at best .406" lift will not be a issue with retainer to seal clearance nor coil bind , so you can sleep good at nite in that regard.
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Wernher Von Braun warned before his retirement from NASA back in 1972, that the next world war would be against the ETs! And he was not talking about 1/8 or 1/4 mile ETs! 1) 1940s 100% silver 4 cup tea server set. Two dry rotted 14 x 10 Micky Thompson slicks. 1) un-mailed in gift coupon from a 1972 box of corn flakes. Two pairs of brown leather flip flops, never seen more then 2 mph. Education is what your left with once you forget things! |
#8
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Appreciate you clarifying the use of the car/engine. I would do as Steve suggests. Gather your 16 springs and just run them to any performance shop in your area and have them measure them at installed height for 115 lb. minimum seat pressure. Install and have fun.
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#9
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Thanks for the help!
__________________
"What the hell's wrong with freedom man? That's what it's all about." (Billy) "Oh yeah, that's what it's all about alright... but talkin about it and bein it, that's two different things." (George) Easyrider |
#10
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The sealed power and melling are probably from the exact same manufacturer. Just something I learned working at auto zone and advance for years
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468/TKO600 Ford thru bolt equipped 64 Tempest Custom. Custom Nocturne Blue with black interior. |
#11
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The last time I bought stock replacement springs they came from NAPA and were in Pioneer boxes. Excellent springs BTW, but since I discovered the Crower 68405's there is not need to use anything else for stock heads with the stock assembly height.......Cliff
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If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you can read this in English, thank a Veteran! https://cliffshighperformance.com/ 73 Ventura, SOLD 455, 3740lbs, 11.30's at 120mph, 1977 Pontiac Q-jet, HO intake, HEI, 10" converter, 3.42 gears, DOT's, 7.20's at 96mph and still WAY under the roll bar rule. Best ET to date 7.18 at 97MPH (1/8th mile), |
#12
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So how much $$$ is a complete set of springs going to total to your door?
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#13
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Quote:
If I end up getting a refund and completing the set with Melling springs, it will actually be a couple bucks less. If I buy the remaining springs from several different suppliers to keep the set all Sealed Power, it will be $110ish. If I go with the Crowers, it will be $140ish + the $66 I have in the other Sealed Power springs that I can't return(over 30 days) and will do me no good.
__________________
"What the hell's wrong with freedom man? That's what it's all about." (Billy) "Oh yeah, that's what it's all about alright... but talkin about it and bein it, that's two different things." (George) Easyrider |
#14
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I would buy Crower springs directly from Crower.. Too much to lose for so little money!
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#15
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The Crower 68404 springs are $126 at Summit. Shop around.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/cro-68404-16 Some consider it "the stock replacement spring".
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'70 TA / 505 cid / same engine but revised ( previous best 10.63 at 127.05 ) Old information here: http://www.hotrod.com/articles/0712p...tiac-trans-am/ Sponsor of the world's fastest Pontiac powered Ford Fairmont (engine) 5.14 at 140 mph (1/8 mile) , true 10.5 tire, stock type suspension https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDoJnIP3HgE |
#16
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I finally got my refund today for the set that was not able to be completed.
I plan to order a set of Crower springs but which number is correct? I see both 68404 and 68405 mentioned above.
__________________
"What the hell's wrong with freedom man? That's what it's all about." (Billy) "Oh yeah, that's what it's all about alright... but talkin about it and bein it, that's two different things." (George) Easyrider |
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