[Ogre]

Originally Posted by Will

... Chuck the metal spring "hats" in the trash. Install Crower 68404-16 valvesprings. ...

Proceed to stomp Ford and ricer butt!

Will, say it ain't so .

I enjoy reading your posts and I really appreciate your advice to me, BUT ... my '72 Pontiac Service Manual says:

External shields are used on both intake and exhaust valve springs to reduce the amount of oil splashed against the valve stems. (The WK [MY NOTE: 400 4bbl, 4 speed] engine does not incorporate shields - See Fig 6-1.)

So have we learned after 34 years that the shields are not really needed, or maybe they never were? What is the discrepancy here? The only reason I ask is because that was the main reason I pulled my heads (it was a good idea anyway) -- to replace a broken valve spring shield.

Thanks for your answer (or anybody else for that matter).

Ogre
BTW, I agree with your last line in the quote !