Valve springs.

[Licensed to kill]

I put the valves back in my C59A flathead today and ran into a bit of a problem. When I tore the engine down I found one valve spring was collapsed. Not a big deal as a friend of mine gave me a pail of valves complete with guides, springs and keepers in case I needed any of these parts. However, all of the springs on the valves that he gave me are slightly larger (wire diameter) than the ones that I have. They are also wound the opposite way, not an issue but a curiosity none the less. Both his springs and my springs are the same height and same coil diameter, just the wire size is different. The problem with this is that no matter what I try, I can't get the keeper on the oddball spring. I get coil bind before I can achieve the clearance I need to install the keeper. Perhaps the 8BA engines have a little more relief cut into the block for these other springs???. I dunno. Is there a specific year/series engine that takes the skinnier springs that I have?.

 

[flatheadmurre]

Check them for spring pressure...might be they are aftermarket and tougher then you need.
Did you install the spring/guide/valve on the bench out of the engine or are you trying to install the mushroom style keeper in the engine ?

 

[Licensed to kill]

Check them for spring pressure...might be they are aftermarket and tougher then you need.
Did you install the spring/guide/valve on the bench out of the engine or are you trying to install the mushroom style keeper in the engine ?

In the engine.

 

[flatheadmurre]

Then youre doing it the hard way...put it togetter on the bench.
Then install it as a unit into the engine.

 

[JSeery]

Really need to check the spring pressure at install height as well.

 

[Ol' Ron]

For a stock engine 35.40 lbs is all you need, I never exceed 50.55 lbs on aftermarket cams like the L-100. However, you need a special tool for installing them. The heavy springs may have been for a racing application.

 

[tubman]

I made a tool the enables you to easily assemble the valve assemblies outside of the engine. I believe it is quite similar to the tool originally made by KRW that mounted on the bench top. (I clamp mine in the vice when I need to use it so my bench is less cluttered.) It is made out of a piece of pipe the proper diameter and a couple of pieces of scrap angle and strap. It was easy to make and works very well. Here are some pictures :

 

[51 MERC-CT]

I made a tool the enables you to easily assemble the valve assemblies outside of the engine. I believe it is quite similar to the tool originally made by KRW that mounted on the bench top. (I clamp mine in the vice when I need to use it so my bench is less cluttered.) It is made out of a piece of pipe the proper diameter and a couple of pieces of scrap angle and strap. It was easy to make and works very well. Here are some pictures :

Makes sense if original type ford valves are being used but for the replacement Chev. type valves, no compression is needed because they don't have the 'bulb' on the shaft.

 

[Init1]

Flatheads use a fairly low spring rate. Unless you are racing, I'd buy a new set of stock springs. They are not expensive.