Valve Spring options

stocker396 · 06-15-2022, 01:06 PM

Looking at replacing my valve springs. (396/350 combo) conventional cam (non-square nose) solid Smith Lifters. Currently using COMP-999 conventional spring, Was told by Bullet to Use the PAC-1427's conical style. These are now "made in China" and I have heard some complaints about durability and longevity with them. Are they the only option
now? Are they that bad? Used to use Isky tool room but had an availability issue last time. Bullet said that the COMP's are too much and could be causing harmonic issues.
FYI also ordering a different cam when I make the change. Im looking for some input with real word results if possible.
thanks in advance

Joe Marcinowski · 06-15-2022, 01:15 PM

Call Ken at Motorsports Unlimited. You can get the number off of their website.

james schaechter · 06-18-2022, 05:24 PM

I have talked to people at PAC about springs being made in Michigan. Sources of wire can be from outside of the US, but I have not heard they source metal or wire from China or make them in China. Anything is possible, but to be fair to PAC Springs, saying they make them in China deserves some validation since it is seen as a negative. What is the source of the info?

Quote:

Originally Posted by stocker396

Looking at replacing my valve springs. (396/350 combo) conventional cam (non-square nose) solid Smith Lifters. Currently using COMP-999 conventional spring, Was told by Bullet to Use the PAC-1427's conical style. These are now "made in China" and I have heard some complaints about durability and longevity with them. Are they the only option
now? Are they that bad? Used to use Isky tool room but had an availability issue last time. Bullet said that the COMP's are too much and could be causing harmonic issues.
FYI also ordering a different cam when I make the change. Im looking for some input with real word results if possible.
thanks in advance

1347 · 06-18-2022, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by james schaechter

I have talked to people at PAC about springs being made in Michigan. Sources of wire can be from outside of the US, but I have not heard they source metal or wire from China or make them in China. Anything is possible, but to be fair to PAC Springs, saying they make them in China deserves some validation since it is seen as a negative. What is the source of the info?

I agree, a call to Matt from PAC would be a good way to verify this info. Their website says they manufacture all their springs in Michigan USA.

b.guggenmos · 06-19-2022, 11:19 PM

I have an NOS set of Comp 999-16 valve springs that have been on my shelf for a really long time. Would make you a really good deal on them if you wish to continue with the same spring? I used PAC 1225's for my cam.

Ralph A Powell · 06-20-2022, 08:15 AM

I know for a fact the years ago well before this China deal that several high end spring manufacturers were getting very high grade spring material from Sweden and it was a 6 month lead time and very expensive!

james schaechter · 06-20-2022, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by james schaechter

I have talked to people at PAC about springs being made in Michigan. Sources of wire can be from outside of the US, but I have not heard they source metal or wire from China or make them in China. Anything is possible, but to be fair to PAC Springs, saying they make them in China deserves some validation since it is seen as a negative. What is the source of the info?

As a follow up, I communicated with Matt and PAC. He said they do NOT have springs made in China or metal from China. The bad info has been spread by a few re-sellers on Amazon who either didn’t know or didn’t fill out the description properly.

J.R. Haddad · 06-20-2022, 04:01 PM

Jim, Thank You for putting common sense back into some of the posts
that are made. I know I appreciate you doing this this and not letting
things get too far off the rails. I know that sometimes facts ruin a
really good story, but I'll take the facts any day.

J.R.

Kenny Bomar · 06-22-2022, 12:03 AM

I’ve been running the pac conical springs on my zl1 stocker engine about 60 passes no problems

Dave Casey · 06-24-2022, 11:51 AM

I have the same cam as you , 400hp 427 , for years I used a Manley nextek spring that came with a damper and I took out the inner spring. Worked great, lasted forever, never broke one and my cam is more square nosed and my car is a stick. Still have a set in my spare motor. I believe that the only advantage of a conical spring is weight at the valve. Sorry, but I do not have the manley number, you could probably figure it out in their catalog

06-15-2022, 01:06 PM	#1
stocker396 Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Santa Fe TEXAS Posts: 109 Likes: 2 Liked 58 Times in 16 Posts	Valve Spring options Looking at replacing my valve springs. (396/350 combo) conventional cam (non-square nose) solid Smith Lifters. Currently using COMP-999 conventional spring, Was told by Bullet to Use the PAC-1427's conical style. These are now "made in China" and I have heard some complaints about durability and longevity with them. Are they the only option now? Are they that bad? Used to use Isky tool room but had an availability issue last time. Bullet said that the COMP's are too much and could be causing harmonic issues. FYI also ordering a different cam when I make the change. Im looking for some input with real word results if possible. thanks in advance __________________ Overkill is Under-rated

06-15-2022, 01:15 PM	#2
Joe Marcinowski Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Northern Ohio Posts: 203 Likes: 848 Liked 33 Times in 15 Posts	Re: Valve Spring options Call Ken at Motorsports Unlimited. You can get the number off of their website. __________________ Joe Marcinowski 3377 STK

06-19-2022, 11:19 PM	#5
b.guggenmos Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Olympia, WA Posts: 68 Likes: 20 Liked 3 Times in 1 Post	Re: Valve Spring options I have an NOS set of Comp 999-16 valve springs that have been on my shelf for a really long time. Would make you a really good deal on them if you wish to continue with the same spring? I used PAC 1225's for my cam.

06-20-2022, 08:15 AM	#6
Ralph A Powell Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Bay City Texas Posts: 388 Likes: 2 Liked 225 Times in 136 Posts	Re: Valve Spring options I know for a fact the years ago well before this China deal that several high end spring manufacturers were getting very high grade spring material from Sweden and it was a 6 month lead time and very expensive!

06-20-2022, 04:01 PM	#8
J.R. Haddad Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 784 Likes: 935 Liked 1,464 Times in 307 Posts	Re: Valve Spring options Jim, Thank You for putting common sense back into some of the posts that are made. I know I appreciate you doing this this and not letting things get too far off the rails. I know that sometimes facts ruin a really good story, but I'll take the facts any day. J.R.

06-22-2022, 12:03 AM	#9
Kenny Bomar Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: mphs tn Posts: 223 Likes: 3 Liked 424 Times in 50 Posts	Re: Valve Spring options I’ve been running the pac conical springs on my zl1 stocker engine about 60 passes no problems

06-24-2022, 11:51 AM	#10
Dave Casey VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Hampden, MA Posts: 1,201 Likes: 233 Liked 774 Times in 164 Posts	Re: Valve Spring options I have the same cam as you , 400hp 427 , for years I used a Manley nextek spring that came with a damper and I took out the inner spring. Worked great, lasted forever, never broke one and my cam is more square nosed and my car is a stick. Still have a set in my spare motor. I believe that the only advantage of a conical spring is weight at the valve. Sorry, but I do not have the manley number, you could probably figure it out in their catalog __________________ Dave Casey 1330 STK