[Stan65]

Paul,

I’ve spent the last 15 years living the “W” life. Lol

A couple quick 4X questions.

Anyone know a maximum safe be distance you can cut the spring seats if I need too? Also how deep is the induction hardening on the seats?

Thanks again and another couple pics of my 09’s

[Lee]

Originally Posted by Stan65

Paul,

Anyone know a maximum safe be distance you can cut the spring seats if I need too? Also how deep is the induction hardening on the seats?

Thanks again and another couple pics of my 09’s

There is a set of Ferrea valves for sale on here right now. Using those should give you about 1.700" installed height without any cutting.

[Jay S]

Cool W engine projects Stan. We have a 62 Impala project with a W. They are cool looking engines, nothing out their like them.

For what is described I would spend a little extra cash and hunt for an OEM NOS 068 cam somewhere, and OEM NOS lifters, or old NOS Johnson lifters, or have yours refaced. I would not be afraid of a new cam, but your better off with old lifters. There would be no reason to pull the inners springs on it. The NOS stuff bypass’s ALL the current flat tappet problems. Then put 1.65 rockers on that, good flat tappet type oil(A lot better than oil in 1973) and that honestly will out last what your talking about trying, or really any other roller I think you could do. That would sound stock and run good with how the engine is described.

Some of my cars set for year at times. I worry much more about my roller cam cars that sit than my 40 year old builds with flat tappets. Todays parts are really a crap shoot on a lot of fronts, I wish the HR cam solved everything, but it really just solves one and adds more. I have a roller cam in my 77 TA, more in the spirit of Paul K’s build he described.

I am not against rollers at all. I even have had the dog bone set up mocked up in a Pontiac. What Is the Howard’s part number, are they like 2148 seal powers? All the LS lifters have the oil bands mismatched pretty bad in a Pontiac, you have to really run certain cams, but I have never seen what Howard’s are. Gaterman are the closest, but hard to find. Howard’s sources their lifters from someone else.

If you want to stay the HR route, Comp evolutions might be worth a try. Johnson have a decent rep. Most HR set ups will be quiet if you don’t get an aggressive profile. Find a profile with 55* or more of intensity from .006” to .050” is a good start to add extra life. Marine type grind. Most everything off the shelf is 52* to 53*. You probably need something pretty custom.

[PAUL K]

Originally Posted by Stan65

Paul,

I’ve spent the last 15 years living the “W” life. Lol

A couple quick 4X questions.

Anyone know a maximum safe be distance you can cut the spring seats if I need too? Also how deep is the induction hardening on the seats?

Thanks again and another couple pics of my 09’s

Those are some cool projects. They look great.

Plenty of room on the spring pockets..... .250 plus thick.

I "greened" the hardened part of the seat on a 4X head we sectioned. We usually use a 1.71 valve they work better all the way around and are commonly available.

The discontinued original Crane lifters have a chance to clear the valley pan with a small cam. Sometimes they pop up on E'bay