Gen 1 valve spring upgrade

[351jose]

Hi all,
Im 18, and currently in the process of my first ever engine tear down to refresh the tired 351 in my daily driver ‘94 L. new timing chain, new seals all around, and a couple of other goodies are going in. i’m keeping the stock cam, but replacing the lifters and pushrods with new but stock spec parts, and upgrading the valve springs with Trick flows SBF spring upgrade kit. The cam is in amazing shape for being a 195k mile engine. After reading the specs on the trick flow website, i realized that perhaps the springs aren’t meant to be used with a stock setup, so im wondering if perhaps any other more experienced engine builders out there could guide me on if im still able to use these springs on a stock setup? apparently these springs have 118lbs of seated pressure at 1.800 installed height, and 330lbs open pressure and 1.200 open height. i’m not too keen on what the stock specs are on the springs, so any help would be appreciated before disassemble the stock valve train.
Thanks in advance for any advice you guys may have.
Jose

 

[oilwell1415]

New lifters are notorious for failing these days. If you still have them and know which lobes they were originally on I would reuse the original lifters before I put new ones in. If you can't use the originals, you really need to put a roller cam in. Yes, it will cost more up front. But what's it going to cost if your new lifters fail?

 

[351jose]

New lifters are notorious for failing these days. If you still have them and know which lobes they were originally on I would reuse the original lifters before I put new ones in. If you can't use the originals, you really need to put a roller cam in. Yes, it will cost more up front. But what's it going to cost if your new lifters fail?

Thanks for your reply, and while yes i agree a roller would be the optimal choice, unfortunately my budget is very tight since the lifters were an unexpected thing that came up. they fell out as i turned the engine upside down, so they can’t be put back in anymore.

 

[FMOS Racing]

I'm way late for this, but pretty sure the Trick Flow springs are for a roller cam and you really shouldn't put new lifters on a well-worn flat tappet cam. I personally think you'd be better off keeping the stock springs and putting the lifters back in, even if they're not in the correct hole.

Generally speaking, the factory springs are about 80 pounds closed, 210 or so open.

 

[IVSVS]

Old School info. If you are going to add a blower at some point, upgrade to the 94 cobra roller cam and the trickflow valve springs. The cam sucks NA, loosing bottom end, but really shines under boost. Ask me how I know.