Ray87Z

I am going to be swapping the springs on my stock Vortecs here shortly, I think the stockers may be tired and floating the valves at higher RPMs.

First off I wanted to verify the LT4 springs would fit in the stock Vortec spring pockets. I did some searching and found one person who said they fit on his, anyone else verify that? LT4 springs are listed as being bigger than the stock vortec springs, this guy claimed there was enough extra space in the seat to fit these springs anyway...

Second I wanted to make sure the LT4 retainers aren't something funny that would further cut down on the retainer to valve guide/seal clearance of the stock Vortecs. If they are, what are some other cheap retainers I could run? I am assuming there is not enough diameter on the stock retainers to work with the LT4 springs.

I was also thinking while I'm in there I might try using +.050 locks from Crane, along with the necessary shims to get the installed height the same, but give me more clearace between the retainer and guides. I won't be running any more lift than I have been for awhile, so this is just insurance for now that I figure is a good idea since I'll be in there anyway, but I probably will then run 1.6 rockers at some later point if this works out...

I am just running a XE262 cam wth .462/.469 btw, have been for a couple years now. I figure that has possibly worn out the less than stellar stock springs. With 1.6s in the future I'd be right at .500 lift, so I think the +.050 locks will give me plenty of clearance assuming they work alright with the LT4 retainers GM sells for cheap... Even if I don't run the locks I still need to do something with the springs...

Any input appreciated. I can't afford at this time the downtime on the car or the money to do it right and get the clearncing done at a shop. Another option I was looking at was Manley retainers with a built in +.030 clearance, but I don't think those work with the LT4 springs which would leave me running more expensive aftermarket H-11 tool springs with some inner dampner mods... I can get the LT4 springs and retainers for under $50 so that is very attractive...

Thanks ahead of time for any info.

F-BIRD'88

K motion K-700 springs fit the stock vortec spring pockets.
You can reuse the stock vortec retainer and valvelocks.

Don't bother with 1.6 rockers.

These springs have been known to have some durability issues.
Most of the problem arises from over reving the motor. If you keep it under 6000 rpm you'll be fine.

Ray87Z

I don't know, I looked at those sometime last year and a guy on here had tried to run them on his Vortecs, and ended up breaking a couple for whatever reason. He actually went back to the stock Vortec springs and seemed to have better luck with those. That all may have been his fault with incorrect setup, but it still makes me a little iffy on them. They are pretty cheap at $42 from Summit, which is right at the price of the LT4s and retainers from GM. Now I'm torn again, lol. If the LT4s won't work then this looks like a good other option though. Do the K-700s have internal dampner springs? I understand they can also cause issues, the LT4s don't have a dampner which was another thing that made them attractive.

I really want to try to come up with something to increase the retainer/guide clearance while I'm doing a spring swap if at all possible...

Vader

LT4 springs, or LT4 "Hot" springs? I've used P/N 12495494 (set of 16) and they will not fit 1.260" spring seats. I had to machine the LT1 heads to fit them. I'm not sure what diameter springs are stock on Vortec heads.

Ray87Z

These are the ones I'm looking at: http://www.sdpc2000.com/cart.asp?act...d=877&pid=2005 I think they are just plain LT4 springs. Same ones you ran on the LT1 heads it looks like.

I was under the impression that stock Vortec springs were 1.260s or so but frankly I don't know either. The LT4s say they are 1.320 OD. Supposedly there is enough extra space in the seats to fit the 1.32 springs though, which is what I was really looking to get verified before I ordered them. Several threads here suggested they might fit, I was just hoping to get a firm answer on it. Guess I can try pulling the valve covers myself and seeing what it looks like before I order anything.

I'm only looking to run .500 max and that's only if I can get the clearance issue taken care of with offset locks or something and run 1.6 rockers (rockers later)... Otherwise I'll just be running my current .462/.469

boogie

You will have to cut the spring seats, I was unable to find a 1.32 cutter and used a 1.44 cutter which required a spring locater to keep the spring from walking around. I ended up using GM # 10212809 LT4 spring shims that locate from the ID. Unfortunatly i had to enlarge the ID of the shims slightly to fit the od of the guide boss.

F-BIRD'88

Why don't you just pull the heads off and do it right and machine the guide boss and spring pockets for some good springs.

Ya mickey moused it before (with the stock springs) and it was not good enough so now do it right.
All the cheap ways out will be,,, just that a cheap 2nd rate way out.
None of them except machining the guide boss will solve the guide boss/retainer clearance issue.

Ray87Z

Can't because I literally barely have enough money to even get the cheapest springs I can find (broke college student), and I also frankly don't want to go through the hassle of removing the heads and being without my car for a week or whatever...

So the LT4s are a no go, well crap. Any other recommendations from anyone?

Anyone happen to know anything about the "Z28" springs Scoggin sells? http://www.sdpc2000.com/cart.asp?act...art&catid=2060 They're cheap, and the same diameter as the stock Vortec springs. Who makes these for Scoggin? They look good, and I'm not looking for super springs to handle monster lift, opinions? These cheapest ones look like they'd be good to just run with the stock retainers/locks and screw trying to worry about 1.6s... They're still significantly better than the stock Vortec springs right? Otherwise it looks like I'll go with the Kmotions then and hope I don't have issues.

Vader

Since you haven't purchased the springs yet, the possibilities are endless. I've had very good experiences with SDPC, but they aren't the only parts supplier out there.

These Howards (made in USA) springs at the bottom of the page might work for you:

http://www.competitionproducts.com/page25.html

RB83L69

The "Z28" (stock) springs from SDPC will work OK at least for a while with your setup as it is.

Whenever you put 1.6 rockers on it, do it right and get the heads machined, including having the pockets and guides cut for the lift you want to run and springs that support it properly. Springs are cheap. Broken springs, and retainers that smash into valve guides, can be $$$extremely expensive$$$. Just get better ones at that time. Sounds like that will be a little ways off, so don't worry about it now.

Low C1500

I emailed sdpc2000 and they have a spring (no name) that fits vortec heads, they use it on HO vortec motors they build. I got set, and they work great. Can't remember the p#. They were right arounf $40 (cheap).