Gator_86_951

How many of you have replaced you valve springs when rebuilding your cylinder head. I spoke with the shop who is working on the head for me, and they are saying the valve springs are showing an 18-20% degredation in rate from factory spec. The cost to replace the springs is ~180 for OEM springs. Between the cylinder head work and the cost of O-ringing the head, this is starting to add up :-(. I am also having to replace two exhaust valves due to cracking. Again the OEM valves are not cheap. What do you guys think?

Pauerman

Try ordering a set of valve springs from Pelican Parts - much cheaper than $180 for the set. I think I paid around $100.00

I've looked in the factory manual for specs on the valve springs (free lenght height, compressed values, etc) and the only value I found was the installed spring height. This height is adjusted with shims placed under the lower spring retainer.

So, if you're being told that your springs have degraded 18-20%, ask which spec they are using to determine this and if/where these values are in the factory manual.

HTH
Vic

ftanguay

I have change all of them with OEM. It was include in the "while I'm in there" things. Sure they can be costly, but I'm sure after 16 years they were a bit softer. (every engine rebuilder told me to change them... and the valve seal and the guide...).

Gator_86_951

I also only found installed height in the factory manual. I suspect he is comparing the values for each of the springs against a value gotten from a sample of new OEM springs. I am going to ask him in the morning.

Mike B

Guess you have to ask yourself how often you plan to remove your head a rebuild it. I don't plan on doing it again for a pile of years so I replaced my valve springs during my rebuild. The set I picked up cost me a $100 as well.

Gator_86_951

Pelican was down earlier. I found the $14.00 per valve springs on their site. Are these OEM Porsche springs? Anybody know? Guess I'll have to wait until Business hours tomorrow to find out.

Pauerman

The valve springs from Pelican are OEM - they also have the correct colour coding on them too.

Dal Heger

The spec for the valve spring rates is in the Porsche Tech reference manual. I'd look it up, but I'm at work, and it's not.

Dal.