Hello fellow olds heads . I'm restoring a 79 cutlass currently working on the frame but also doin engine work in between waiting on parts . I'm putting a 73 455 in it and the 455 has 70 heads on it .I was given a elderbrock 7112 cam lifters kit free when I bought the engine . The exhaust lift is .520 and the elderbrock valve springs they made for that cam is discontinued. My question is does anyone know a part number of any springs with a .550 or .600 lift that would work with this cam ?

 

Please post the letter designation of the heads which you are using; i'm guessing that you have "E" heads on that motor.

 

So sorry , I'm very new to this . Yes they are E heads 403686

 

Best I can tell, "E" heads were manufactured prior to valve rotators so your valve spring installed height with a standard retainer would be about 1.680", maybe 1.700". Could not find much info on the discontinued Edelbrock valve springs beside their advertised rate of 273 lbs/inch. Comp Cams has a single valve spring with damper which I think would work with that camshaft, p/n 942-16 and available from Comp Cams or Summit Racing among others. With a single spring you can still use stock valve stem seals in most cases. The intake of that camshaft being less than 0.500", may require no machine work of the intake valve guide for clearance but you should have your machinest check carefully the clearance on both intake and exhaust valves.

 

E heads came both ways, with or without rotators. Post a pic of the valve spring pocket

 

Here’s two E heads, both big valves..one shallow, non rotator, and the other deep springs seats for rotators.

 

CANADIANOLDS thanks for the added info and pics, did not know there were two different series with the same casting letter! What is the installed height on the deep pocket head when using standard (non rotator) retainers?

 

deep pocket with standard rotator is about 1.84”

GM use to sell a thick .180” shim if you wanted to eliminate the rotator on those

the intake port roof is also lower around the guide boss on deep pocket heads

 

Kapos79kutlass, if you are still looking for valve spring recommendation and have been following along, you see that it will be necessary to provide the "installed" height measurement to find an acceptable valve spring for your project. We would be happy to help you!

 

You can use a beehive spring with the right retainer. Just need to confirm the installed height so you know which shims to get if you need them.

A couple Engine Pro part numbers. There's a place in California who has all their pricing online. I sell this stuff, too.

Beehive retainers for 7* locks
03-1013-16

LS "LS6" drop in valve spring. 1.8" installed height, .570" max lift.

Otherwise, if you have the right non-rotating retainers
02-1017-16, 1.7" installed height, .550 max lift. Pretty much the Edelbrock drop-in replacement.

 

whats the LS6 drop in valve spring part# and specs? Can you give a link

 

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/n...0455?rrec=true

Manufacturer's Part Number: 19420455
Valve Spring Style: Beehive
Maximum Valve Lift (in.): 0.550 in.
Outside Diameter of Outer Spring (in.): 1.290 in.
Coil Bind Height (in.): 1.200 in.
Spring Rate (lbs/in.): 375 lbs./in.

 

I forgot the E heads also came with half deep and half shallow, rotators just on exhaust

here’s a pic of the third style.. or actually the second style. First would be non rotator, second half and half, third rotators on all

 

You said engine pro and it was a drop in…that’s a GM part #

that’s why I asked. No beehive is a drop in on an Olds. They all need seat cup locaters. I’ve used beehives on Olds many times, they are the least drop in of any spring

 

How's it going fellows as stated I'm new and using this forum on my phone . But I'm getting the hang of it if I was told I posted in the wrong section so if you respond please do on my thread in the "Big Block " section. But just read yalls responses . So ok Cutlassefi said that my cam was to big for what I'm doing ( just a home stock rebuild for low end torque and nice choppy sound .) So I'm looking for any suggestions on a cam thats under .500 lift that sounds good and adds some torque . On my E heads the rotators are the half and half . When I bought this engine the guy gave me another set of heads that I didn't pay attention to . They are Ka heads with 2.07 intake valves and also half and half rotators. Bigger than my E heads so added question should I use the Ka heads over my E heads ? So in short which heads should I use and what cam recommendations?

This is the half and half rotators correct?

Ka heads with the same .

 

The right way to do it for maximum benefit would be to do have the Ka heads gone thru, have them cut .060 or so and use a single pattern cam on a tighter lobe separation. You’re never going to hear it that much cuz you have marginal cyl pressure with the lower compression anyway. But it’ll make a noticeable difference.