Iron Head Valve Springs

[NightTrain66]

yes, stock retainers will work with the Howards 98213/98215 springs and they are actually a lil lighter than most aftermarket steel retaienrs.

Lloyd

[87IROCLT1]

Thanks for the confirmation Lloyd. Merry Christmas.

[87IROCLT1]

ok all, i ended up with howards 98215 a set of comp pro-mag 1.6s SA (1318-16) i got them all swapped over this weekend, they were noisey on first start up. I was able to look into it tonight and although it looked like i had enough clearance saturday, i think the push rods were rubbing the heads causing the clacking. i DID NOT open up the holes in the heads as i was hoping this would be a decent bolt on without pulling the heads. does anyone have experience with 1.6rr rubbing untouched iron heads? i will be able to readjust the valves this weekend, but i am at a loss otherwise. Im hoping some experts here might have done this before, what tool to use to measure clearances on the pushrod holes etc

[BALLSS]

I ran Crane Gold 1:6 RR SA and Crane 10309 springs with hardened 7.200 PR on stock iron heads for years. no problem.

Did you trim the webbing of your valve covers when you put in the Comp 1:6??

you need to

[87IROCLT1]

I ran Crane Gold 1:6 RR SA and Crane 10309 springs with hardened 7.200 PR on stock iron heads for years. no problem.

Did you trim the webbing of your valve covers when you put in the Comp 1:6??

you need to

i have the magnesium covers on the car, and i did trim off the drippers before i put the covers back on.

I also ran the car for a bit with one of the covers off to verify i didnt have interference with the covers, it was quieter, but still clicky/clacky noise, not the sewing machine. I know the mag covers tend to amplify the noise, but i didnt think it would have been that terrible.

[87IROCLT1]

well that answers that- i pulled the #1 cylinder rockers, and used a permanent marker to color the area the push rod went through the head, low and behold after running for a few minutes the marker is worn off. I have hardened push rods, so i couldnt see any wear on the rods themselves. I then swapped to the original stamped rockers and did the same thing, no witness marks on marked area. Just shows i do have interference between pushrod and the head. so the OE rockers went back on, good thing i kept all of the parts together and labeled which valve they came off of. Now it runs with little to no noise, cant wait until the spring.

I should see some improvements from the valve springs alone, we will see if decide to pull the heads to open up the push rod holes or not, but at this point im thinking its not worth it, especially with the AL heads sitting there waiting for $$$ to go to Llyod. Thanks everyone!

[BALLSS]

Weird...I had 1:6 SA on a stock iron head motor for years and am using that motor now its a 355 but same iron heads and SA RR I had on them before. No PR to head contact. Stock, non trimmed, VC's also as the Crane "narrow body" RR require no VC trimming. My 383 with Comp Pro Mag 1:6 RR I did trim the valve cover baffles on those to clear

Your 1:6 RR were Self Aligning right?

[87IROCLT1]

I know, I have heard more success stories with stock iron heads than failures. Oh well. I guess the machinist that day missed high.

Yes SA, comp pro mags 1318-16