All Small Six 289 Valve Spring on stock i250

[Drummadude]

Noob here and had read in the the Inline 6 Rebuild and Modify book that a stock engine upgrade for a daily driver would be to install sb 289 Valve Springs. I am in the process of replacing the umbrella seals and thought the old "while I'm here I might as well". But I have run into trouble procuring all of the springs. I tried to get the last 5 needed from Rock Auto but a SNAFU occurred and when I ordered the seals the 5 springs did not make the order. So a chap on eBay had listed 7 NOS 289 springs, but when they were pulled from the box they are not. SO I posted on a thread on the oil pan mod and it was suggested by Chad to bring it here. So is it recommended to do the mod, also what valve spring did I receive? When I tried to Google the PN it did not reveal anything I could make sense of.

 

[TrickSix]

As per a recent post of mine, eBay sellers are often completely unaware of what it is they're selling. An old shop goes out of business and all of the stock is sold at auction. Some of those NOS parts are then sold in lots to other buyers, who then sell it on eBay. No one knows that years ago a mechanic put a few leftover springs from one job in a different numbered box. All the latest seller knows is the part number on the box, and of course they make no effort to confirm the specs of the parts matches the number on the box. I do like buying NOS parts on eBay, but I have found skepticism and caution are required to get what you want.

 

[TrickSix]

Also, I'm curious as to what benefit you expect from the stiffer valve springs by themselves. Yes, they are required with higher revving, more aggressive high lift aftermarket camshafts. They are not needed in a stock engine, and will increase stress and wear from one end of the valve train to the other. Without a cam that requires stiffer springs I wouldn't bother. I would also avoid mixing springs from different brands made decades apart, you want matching specs on all your springs. Spring testers can check to see if they are a good match, but I wouldn't assume it.

 

[Frank]

Also, I'm curious as to what benefit you expect from the stiffer valve springs by themselves. Yes, they are required with higher revving, more aggressive high lift aftermarket camshafts. They are not needed in a stock engine, and will increase stress and wear from one end of the valve train to the other. Without a cam that requires stiffer springs I wouldn't bother. I would also avoid mixing springs from different brands made decades apart, you want matching specs on all your springs. Spring testers can check to see if they are a good match, but I wouldn't assume it.

furthermore, Drummadude especially if the cam, lifters, etc is the same, if you're only changing oil seals, the stock springs should be reused in the same location they were removed. The "same location" bit is probably unnecessary, but reusing the factory springs is not, if the rest of the components are unchanged. As stated above, there is no benefit in a spring heavier than the application needs, and especially on parts that are already run-in and well used- changing springs introduces more risk of rapid wear of otherwise good old components, and no benefit.

 

[Drummadude]

furthermore, Drummadude especially if the cam, lifters, etc is the same, if you're only changing oil seals, the stock springs should be reused in the same location they were removed. The "same location" bit is probably unnecessary, but reusing the factory springs is not, if the rest of the components are unchanged. As stated above, there is no benefit in a spring heavier than the application needs, and especially on parts that are already run-in and well used- changing springs introduces more risk of rapid wear of otherwise good old components, and no benefit.

Thanks guys, you guys are in the know and have more experience, so I will follow your advice.