broken valve springs

**zoomo** · 10-19-2015, 09:23 PM

Well as some of you saw, i blew a head gasket this weekend. upon further inspection, it seems that every single of my inner valve springs is broken.

I tried doing some searching but didnt come up with much...
im assuming its probably from over revving. but none of the valves seem to have touched the heads...so is it possible it just broke the springs? I was still spinning it up to 6k and everything seemed pretty much fine....

the springs were bought as a kit with my comp camshaft from a local distributor.
i did add 1.6 rockers but they had told me when i bought them they were good for .600 lift, and my cam was at like .530 before rockers...i think..

Any other reasons these all broke? looks like its been grinding up metal and sending it through my engine. so hopefully it didnt destroy any bearings too bad....

on a side good note, seems that they destroyed my valve seals as well...so thats why shes been smokin

**Still2slow** · 10-19-2015, 10:22 PM

When I put a cam/valve springs in mine about 10 years ago it started breaking the inner dampening springs immediately. Per the recommendation of a local machine shop cyl. head specialist I removed all the dampeners, changed the oil/filter a few times and all has been well since.

**zoomo** · 10-19-2015, 10:26 PM

Originally Posted by Still2slow

When I put a cam/valve springs in mine about 10 years ago it started breaking the inner dampening springs immediately. Per the recommendation of a local machine shop cyl. head specialist I removed all the dampeners, changed the oil/filter a few times and all has been well since.

well isnt that an interesting thought...i cant find the info on these springs but i feel sure they were good for 600 lift. looked up my cam it was a 510 on 1.5 rockers...seems strange to me these all broke and doesnt seem to have touched a valve...maybe the springs are enough without the inner springs...would save me a few bucks lol.

**Still2slow** · 10-19-2015, 10:30 PM

Pull one and take to a local machine shop/engine builder. They can check the seat pressure at whatever installed height and max pressure and coil bind height. Sorry for being vague on that but don't remember all those specs. Get a spring checked out, might work out fine like mine did.

**Still2slow** · 10-19-2015, 10:38 PM

My cam is a .555 lift btw in/ex

**zoomo** · 10-19-2015, 10:38 PM

i will do that for sure. hopefully i can find someone to check one for me tomorrow. that would be perfect if it was right. I would rather not have to buy a set of springs haha

**Still2slow** · 10-19-2015, 10:55 PM

Be sure to bring all the hardware with you like seat, retainer and shims. Bring the whole head if it's already off.

**Catmaigne** · 10-19-2015, 11:45 PM

Are you talking about an inner spring or an inner damper? Highly doubt your going to have enough pressure by removing inner springs if the kit was spec'd for your cam from the start, especially considering springs lose pressure pretty quickly. A damper will also contribute to the spring rate but not nearly as much.

**firebird_1995** · 10-20-2015, 04:43 AM

If the inner piece looks like the wide, flat piece in this picture. ..

then it's a damper and it won't reduce the valve pressure. They do help dampen harmonics though and can cause dead spots in the rpm band.

**zoomo** · 10-20-2015, 06:21 AM

Yes it's definitely flat ones like that on the inside. They are all broken in pieces clanking around. Thanks for the advice guys. I'm still hoping to have the pressures checked but feeling a little better about maybe being able to re use these