Going over preliminary assembly checks I noticed that my valve spring retainer makes contact with the valve seal at approximately 0.500" of valve lift. I plan to run the Edelbrock 4730 camshafts which have 0.490" lift on the intake side. I am using OEM valve guides with supertech retainers and keepers. From what I have read online you typically need allow 10% (ex. 0.539") for valve float etc.

From examples I have read on HT depending on valve train combination others have measured andy where from 0.480"-0.515", with everyone running 0.500"+ cams I am shocked this is not a more commonly addressed issue. No wonder we see so many broken camshafts and torn up rockers..

 

None?

 

Problem found....

 

What are those two valves oem and ....?

 

Ferrea 6000

 

Interesting. Never had a defect with ferrea....yet.

 

The Ferrea valve is the same length as the OEM valve but the location of the groove moves the retainer down.

I was hoping the Ferrea retainer would move the installed height but I do not believe it does from this photograph.

 

It is not a defect, they are designed this way. They specify the lengths in their catalog and they measure to spec. I am not sure if the Ferrea retainers move the installed height back up or not, I don't have an extra $600 to spend on ferrea springs and retainers. I may buy one retainer and keeper to settle my curiosity.

 

This doesn't seem right, its been a few years but I don't recall this issue. I have competition plus and oem valves at home I will have to take a close look at. In the pic the only thing that looks different are the valve locks. Those arent ferrea retainers. Looks like supertech.

 

I "stole" that retainer photograph from a post that Head made. I would agree the retainers appear to be ST.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

I know that Manley stems are bigger then Honda. Ferrea are the same as Honda. From the looks of the pic the retainers are the same. You should always check installed height.

 

The stem length is the same, the overall length is the same, the groove location is different.

I believe the proper fix is to cut the valve to adjust the install height.

What are you using to get an accurate installed height measurement on the b-vtec heads?

 

I too would like to know the answer to this question ..

 

There is a tool for that....

 

There is no way your fitting that tool in a b-vtec head.

 

Subscribed.

 

Are you running ferrea keepers with your ferrea valves?

 

I do not currently have Ferrea Keepers, Retainers or Springs

 

So true. Already tried in 2006.

 

the ferrea pics keepers arent right. they should sit more like the manley pic. they look like theyre gonna go flying out.

 

They do look odd but that was the point of the photograph, again it was taken by Head who has build a lot more heads than I ever dream to.

 

what part number is on the valve stem?

 

F6048 Intake
F6049 Exhaust

 

I'm running ferrea 6000 series valves with supertech springs, retainers, and manley locks. I had tom at portflow install his valve guides(which I think are supertech) in the head, and do a valve job as well. I told him I was using skunk2 tuner 2 cams, and he said clearence was good. Maybe he sank the guides in lower or they are not as tall, but it working for me, and I've takin the motor to 9000 rpms many times.

 

How I normally check the clearance is by using the B-Series Camshaft Degree Fixture and bottom out the retainer. Given, it is not as accurate as the valve spring micrometer but it is a LOT better than guessing.