 Heavy-duty cylindrical springs of this type are required for super high-lift camshaft-equipped valve trains. But they also are the heaviest in terms of mass. |
Bigger is Better?
With the ever increasing number of Beehive springs available from COMP, and similar designs from other manufacturers, the question of going to a larger spring, bigger than what will fit in the stock valve spring seat, can be a question. The key here is to ask the manufacturer's technicians. If they determine that your cylinder head requires a larger valve spring, they can suggest a larger spring and spring seat cutter, which can be used to provide the correct clearance for your application.
"Our catalog offers us a detailed guide of the proper cutter for valve spring application," stated CAM HELP technician, John Williams. "The only cutter combination that is a bit tricky is the one for the Vortech cylinder head. We offer a special cutter that increases the spring seat without damaging the bosses in the head.
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| Note the vast difference in weight between this titanium retainer used with the Beehive spring and the standard steel retainer -- both used for same engine application. | |
What have we learned?
With Beehive springs, or any valve spring, it’s all about stress. In life, if you reduce stress you can handle more.
Reducing the stress in your engine’s valve train by installing springs that have less seat pressure will allow the valves to move earlier and provide longer durability.