Valve Springs

GTSteed89 · 04-18-2005, 12:46 PM

I have AFR 185 heads and was wondering what would be a good upgrade spring that could simply be dropped in to replace the stock AFR springs? All searches I have made so far have turned up blank. I am having trouble finding springs with the 1.45 OD and the installed height of 1.80. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Jeff Chambers · 04-19-2005, 07:01 AM

Go through the Comp Cams catalog and look for something similar. I think I used to run a 927-17 with my P heads that was a 1.45OD spring with an installed height somewhere around 1.80". Judging by your mods, it might not be a bad idea to have the heads set up for a 1.54" or bigger spring and run some good double springs. You'll have a much greater selection of springs if you do this.

GTSteed89 · 04-19-2005, 09:23 AM

I ordered springs yesterday a little better than what I had, enough to get me through this year. I have a big change planned for the car after this season, and wanted to get something to get me through the rest of this season. The springs on the car are double springs with dampners, which is what I ordered yesterday, only the ones I ordered have a slightly higher closed pressure than the AFR springs do. Thank you for your recommendations and help.

red82gt · 04-19-2005, 01:11 PM

I just put a set of comp 986 dual springs on a set of AFR 185's a couple days ago, they are 1.437" in diameter and fit in the spring pocket nicely and the guides are already .531" so comp or crane teflon seals will work without machine work. The comp 987's have the same dimensions but more spring pressure on the seat and over the nose.

Jeff Chambers · 04-19-2005, 02:42 PM

Now that you mention it, it might have been the 986/987's that I ran with the P heads. I'd have to dig back through my notes to be sure, but that number rings a bell for some reason.

GTSteed89 · 04-22-2005, 06:12 AM

Hey guys, just to let you know we pulled the rockers for the spring change and found #1 and #4 intake pushrods broken. How the heck that happened I do not know. Seemed to have broken on the seem at the lifter end, they were still being held together by pressure and never separated from their position. I made at least 3 passes, possibly even 5 because I had valve float 5 passes ago at the top of first gear trying to shift it at 6500 rpm. Could weakened springs cause valve float and break pushrods like this? Thanks for any insight.

04-19-2005, 07:01 AM	#2
Jeff Chambers Moderator Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Milan, OH Posts: 2,699	Re: Valve Springs Go through the Comp Cams catalog and look for something similar. I think I used to run a 927-17 with my P heads that was a 1.45OD spring with an installed height somewhere around 1.80". Judging by your mods, it might not be a bad idea to have the heads set up for a 1.54" or bigger spring and run some good double springs. You'll have a much greater selection of springs if you do this. __________________ Jeff Chambers 1990 Mustang GT 10.032 Seconds / 137.5 MPH 14-time Street Warrior World Record Setter CRT Performance 2001 Tropic Green Mustang GT - 12.181 / 113.2 MPH 2002 Ford F-250 Crew Cab 7.3l Power Stroke - 17.41@77.2 "There's nothing boring about a small block automatic shifting gears at 9400 rpm!"

04-19-2005, 09:23 AM	#3
GTSteed89 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Leesport, PA USA Posts: 24	Re: Valve Springs I ordered springs yesterday a little better than what I had, enough to get me through this year. I have a big change planned for the car after this season, and wanted to get something to get me through the rest of this season. The springs on the car are double springs with dampners, which is what I ordered yesterday, only the ones I ordered have a slightly higher closed pressure than the AFR springs do. Thank you for your recommendations and help. __________________ 89GT, 392, AFR 185's, 11.30:1 compression, Victor Jr., 241/251 dur. @.050 with .570 lift with 1.72's, 750 Speed Demon,1 3/4 longtubes, C4 w/ 8in., 3.73's, Detroit Locker, sway bar off front, Moroso Trick drag springs on all 4 corners, Pro3I control arms with adjustable spring jack, HPM Double adjustable uppers, solid bushings, 70/30's, subframes, 3" X-pipe, 2 chamber flows (3") 11.05 @ 120 1.51 60ft. on 26x10 Hoosier slicks. 11.06 @ 121 1.54 60ft. with the 8 inch and 26x10 Mickey slicks.

04-19-2005, 02:42 PM	#5
Jeff Chambers Moderator Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Milan, OH Posts: 2,699	Re: Valve Springs Now that you mention it, it might have been the 986/987's that I ran with the P heads. I'd have to dig back through my notes to be sure, but that number rings a bell for some reason. __________________ Jeff Chambers 1990 Mustang GT 10.032 Seconds / 137.5 MPH 14-time Street Warrior World Record Setter CRT Performance 2001 Tropic Green Mustang GT - 12.181 / 113.2 MPH 2002 Ford F-250 Crew Cab 7.3l Power Stroke - 17.41@77.2 "There's nothing boring about a small block automatic shifting gears at 9400 rpm!"

04-22-2005, 06:12 AM	#6
GTSteed89 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Leesport, PA USA Posts: 24	Re: Valve Springs Hey guys, just to let you know we pulled the rockers for the spring change and found #1 and #4 intake pushrods broken. How the heck that happened I do not know. Seemed to have broken on the seem at the lifter end, they were still being held together by pressure and never separated from their position. I made at least 3 passes, possibly even 5 because I had valve float 5 passes ago at the top of first gear trying to shift it at 6500 rpm. Could weakened springs cause valve float and break pushrods like this? Thanks for any insight. __________________ 89GT, 392, AFR 185's, 11.30:1 compression, Victor Jr., 241/251 dur. @.050 with .570 lift with 1.72's, 750 Speed Demon,1 3/4 longtubes, C4 w/ 8in., 3.73's, Detroit Locker, sway bar off front, Moroso Trick drag springs on all 4 corners, Pro3I control arms with adjustable spring jack, HPM Double adjustable uppers, solid bushings, 70/30's, subframes, 3" X-pipe, 2 chamber flows (3") 11.05 @ 120 1.51 60ft. on 26x10 Hoosier slicks. 11.06 @ 121 1.54 60ft. with the 8 inch and 26x10 Mickey slicks.

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04-18-2005, 12:46 PM	#1
GTSteed89 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Leesport, PA USA Posts: 24	Valve Springs I have AFR 185 heads and was wondering what would be a good upgrade spring that could simply be dropped in to replace the stock AFR springs? All searches I have made so far have turned up blank. I am having trouble finding springs with the 1.45 OD and the installed height of 1.80. Any help will be greatly appreciated. __________________ 89GT, 392, AFR 185's, 11.30:1 compression, Victor Jr., 241/251 dur. @.050 with .570 lift with 1.72's, 750 Speed Demon,1 3/4 longtubes, C4 w/ 8in., 3.73's, Detroit Locker, sway bar off front, Moroso Trick drag springs on all 4 corners, Pro3I control arms with adjustable spring jack, HPM Double adjustable uppers, solid bushings, 70/30's, subframes, 3" X-pipe, 2 chamber flows (3") 11.05 @ 120 1.51 60ft. on 26x10 Hoosier slicks. 11.06 @ 121 1.54 60ft. with the 8 inch and 26x10 Mickey slicks.

04-19-2005, 01:11 PM	#4
red82gt Sober voice of Reason Join Date: Nov 1998 Location: Kelowna, B.C., Canada Posts: 1,514	Re: Valve Springs I just put a set of comp 986 dual springs on a set of AFR 185's a couple days ago, they are 1.437" in diameter and fit in the spring pocket nicely and the guides are already .531" so comp or crane teflon seals will work without machine work. The comp 987's have the same dimensions but more spring pressure on the seat and over the nose. __________________ 393W: AFR 205's, hydraulic roller, TKO600.