Engine and Transmission Tech

You could do 1.7" on the 300 heads if you cut the seats a bit deeper. Installed height 1.635 + .030" washer gives 1.665 so it'd only take .035" to do that. Or you could install at 1.665" and get a little higher spring pressure. IDK if it's from the length of the valve or the depth of the seat.

But, absent a real good reason I intend to stick with the stock Rover valves. With 5.7L displacement in the MGB I don't really have to go looking for horsepower. And this is a spare engine. I will be able to swap on the TA heads if it means that much.

Jim

I used Ford 2.3 SOHC valves which are a little longer.

Any idea what the angle and diameter is for the 3800s that used the beehive springs? Even though they had a taller installed height, if the rest is usable a shorter spring might be found...

Jim

8mm and 7 degrees.

[www.ebay.com]

77-78 Oddfire V6 valves have 2 keeper slots, 75-76 had same as 300? After 78 Buick V6 went to single 7 degree keeper.




Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/17/2022 02:34PM by mgb260.

OK so none of that really helps does it.
300 valves are 1/16" longer than Rover valves. Otherwise nearly identical except for head size.

I found a source once for a wide variety of retainers, seems like it was a specialty company and that was all they did. I'll try to find that again.

Jim

Jim, That oddfire V6 valve looks like the top groove would use a 7 degree keeper, same length as 300 valve and max size for rover seat. Probably reasonable cost compared to the large Rover valves.

Thanks Jim. I'm going to keep looking for springs and such that can work on the stock valves. I think the 4.6/5.4L Ford springs look promising, not sure about the retainers.

Might have to resort to making a tapered seat cutter for the keepers but I'd rather not. That's kinda a PITA but definitely can be done if I have to.

Jim

Can you cut the diameter of the Buick retainer down? Maybe the step on the under side too? Or ream out the beehive retainer to 11 degrees?

Might use an arbor to hold the retainer and turn it down to fit the beehive. I think that might be the easiest.

Jim

Jim, These Ford 4.2 V6 springs may work for you:
Also 4.6 SOHC V8
[www.rockauto.com]

[www.rockauto.com]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/15/2022 12:22AM by mgb260.

Close but the first one limits cam lift to about .400" and the 2nd one even more. Ideal would be:

coil bind: < 1.000"
Installed Height: 1.560"
closed pressure: 110-125#
rate: > 275# or open pressure > 300#
OD: < 1.240"
ID: > .850"

Such a spring is possible but maybe not available. The easiest thing to change is the OD and ID.

Jim

So far the 4.6L Ford springs seem to be coming the closest.

PAC 1231X is the closest I've found so far:
[www.racingsprings.com]

That one will work with machining of the inner boss from .852 to .720"

Jim

What is the OEM installed valve spring height on the Rover heads, 1.6"?

1.560"

TFS-15411 is another similar possibility

Jim

That short? Wondering how everyone is running the 50232 without experiencing coil bind.

BTW what is the difference between the Crower 50232 & 53232 cams? If the 53232 is for Rover, how is it different?

Carl, Rover cam has a different nose for the retainer plate.

I thought that only applies to the 4.0 & 4.6 engines.

Okay, it's a short nose cam for the crank driven oil pump engines only.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/15/2022 11:47AM by MGBV8.

It seems like a very small diameter spring to be developing a 300# spring rate. Guess it would be light weight though.

Jim

Carl,

Marc at D&D sold me a special set of springs with my Crower 50232 cam. No name or box with them though, just RV-911-16 as a part number on the invoice.

Notes from machine shop that did the work:

"Had to cut the spring seats pockets 0.100 to 0.135" to get 1.665" to 1.675" installed height.
Stock retainers tight to the springs, springs needed chamfer to fit.
Distance to coil bind 0.025" to 0.035".
Seat pressure 105#, open pressure 225#, this is lower than Crower recommendations but recommended by supplier of cam."
"Recommend Howards Cams Spring #98111. Better rate, fitment to retainers and more room to coil bind."

Looking back at these number, I have put a lot of faith in D&D, so far no issues but that room to coil bind looks close!

53232 is for non disy Rover as Jim N mentioned.