| Here was a pretty major roadblock. When I got the cam kit and tried installing the valvesprings, I found that they were too large a diameter to fit within the casting ridges of my heads. This is because the LT4 uses aluminum heads and larger spring seats. I started using a chisel to knock down the ridges, which was a dumb idea since those ridges help positon the springs. Once I came to my senses I went back down to Criss' Machine Shop and asked his advice. My plan was to have him machine the seats for the new springs, but he said that wasn't the thing to do. It would have cost a mint for no apparent benefit. He suggested some springs he had there that fit perfectly and actually had more force "on the nose" than the ones that came with the kit. He checked them for binding and sold me the set for $32! He didn't even charge for his time, so he got a case of beer out of the deal too. The other funny part was that the retainers that came with the hot cam kit fit his springs better than the ones it came with. So my advice? ... Make friends with a good machine shop! |
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