Help!!!Comp Cam and correct valve springs

[hanaxj87]

Please help! I thought my research was done..

I'am rebuilding a 1996 4.0 bored .020 all stock except comp cam choice.

After talking to comp cam techs and reading some posts here, The Comp cam kit K68-232-4 was purchased. The machine shop called the springs with this kit won't work...

I called comp cam tech again Yeah the springs with this kit won't work on 1988 and later heads.. The only spring they claim will work is the Mopar Proformance Springs P/N P4529215.

I'am freaking out on all the cam failures and issues I'am reading about.

Anyone running comp cam 68-232-4 with the mopar spring P4529215 ?

All advice greatly appreciated!!!!

This project is making me crazy

Nick

 

[nosigma]

There are dozens of springs that will work on the 4.0 head. Coil bind at full lift, installed height along with seat pressure are primary concerns. The amount to machine from the seat, radius cutting the spring seat for larger springs, hardened seat washers, numerous caps, retainers and even lash caps if you need them for roller rockers. Its an almost endless combination. I run a Buick application double spring, machined the seats, used hardened washers, lash caps and roller rockers, Pontiac application guide plates and much larger than stock valves, offset in bronze guides (still the same size stem) for max flow.

The point of all that useless information is that you can easily find a spring set up to work with any cam and valve train combo in the 4.0 head if someone knows what they are doing. I suspect your machinist is an OEM machinist/assembler and isnt really into cylinder head building. He may be a fine machinist but you have probably just exceeded the limit of his knowledge in component selection.

I would reccomend to solutions:
1) If you have some time, buy Vizards books on cylinder head development, become a wise consumer and then work with your machinist on selecting and fitting up the components. Checking heights, pressures, fits, clearance etc all along the way.

2) Go find a machine shop that builds race motors. They will almost always know how to select and check and install valve train components. Get some recommendations. All because some kid built a couple small block chevy drag motors doesnt mean he knows what he is doing.

On the surface I wouldn't just buy what someone recommends and install it. I would be tempted to go with the cam mfg recommendation in a pinch but for peace of mind I would darn sure measure everything before calling it good.

Not an answer to your problem but I hope it helps.

John

 

[nosigma]

Did your machinist tell you WHY the springs wouldnt work? Just cruising through my Comp Cams catalog assume the problem is OD of the spring, which is easily fixed by machining the head.

John

 

[76ANTHONY]

any machine shop that says these wont fit, should be closed down and shot. they need to give you a reason and be specific, and then tell you what will....these wont fit, wtf????

 

[hanaxj87]

It's not the machine shop, they caught the problem in the foot notes from comp cam...

I called comp cam they claim that the springs will not work in heads after 1988..

Very frustrating!!!!

Nick

 

[RCman]

Very odd, I don't know why they would tell you that.
I'm running that exactly kit (K68-232-4) in mine with no issues to date. ('98 block/head everything else '97).
Yet if you are that worried, then get the specs of the Mopar springs, compare them (I'm not familiar with them), make sure they are similar and run them.
Edit: In this thread there is talk about the Crane 99833 springs. Look into those as well.

Go find a machine shop that builds race motors.

Exactly what I did for the block and head work on mine. It is nice to here from someone that actually does it for a living. Even if it isn't a Jeep I6 expert, they'l still know a lot of things that would normally be overlooked.

 

[hanaxj87]

Did your machinist tell you WHY the springs wouldnt work? Just cruising through my Comp Cams catalog assume the problem is OD of the spring, which is easily fixed by machining the head.

John

The only answer I got was the valve stem size changed..

I 'am hoping someone chimes in thats running the mopar springs.. I'am calling mopar tech line to confirm what comp cam techs say....

Nick

 

[gradon]

I'm running the beefier mopar p5249464 springs(good up to .525" lift) on the mopar 30ab cam(.45" lift). These are a direct fit, with no machining of the seat necessary. If you have lifts .43" or less you can run the p4529215 springs--these are stock replacement. I'm using the p4452032 chromoly retainers and the p4529218 keepers.

 

[Goatman]

Just get the Mopar Performance springs, that will solve the issue. Also, be sure to break in that cam properly.

 

[hanaxj87]

Oh how I wish it was that easy!!!

I gave Mopar Performance Tech Line a call. They do not offer a spring that will work with this cam.. The reason the gross lift intake .462 and exhaust .478.

They recommended calling Hesco,so first thing monday, I hope to have some answers.

Please stay tuned

Nick

 

[nosigma]

You need to go to a speed shop or a race engine building who has catalogs with dimensions. This is not hard. You need to talk to someone in person who has a clue how to look up parts and match them based on dimensions. Then order the parts, fit them up and check everything. You need keepers to fit the valve diameter and notch configuration. Then you need retainers that are cut to the same angle as the keepers. The retainers need to fit the springs and the springs cant touch at full compression. If you get that far (and its easy with a good parts guy) then you can sweat the real important stuff like installed height and seat pressures.

PS: GRADON Just gave you all the part numbers you need for your cam.

John

 

[gradon]

So why won't the p5249464 springs work when they are good for lifts up to .525"?

 

[hanaxj87]

So why won't the p5249464 springs work when they are good for lifts up to .525"?

Good Question, I see that number on the spec sheet I printed off the internet.. Under engine it lists 5.2 /5.9 not the 4.0.. I asked the mopar tech guy if they had a spring to fit my engine with this cam.. He checked and said no..

I'am still amazed that comp cam can't tell me what spring will work .Before I ordered the kit I called comp tech support told them what I was building, The K68-232-4 kit was recommended by them. I even asked the question is this all I need to install the cam?The answer was yes..

I'am starting to wonder if it's worth all the trouble.. Hopefully Hesco can tell me..

Nick

 

[nosigma]

Dont get all worked up over engine application if it fits, it fits. The parts dont have a brain, they dont know if they are in a Chevy, Ford, AMC or MOPAR. 80% of all parts guys dont really know parts. If the computer doesnt show the application they say it wont fit. You can do this two ways, pay a smart engine builder to figure it out for you, or take the advice given above, get smart yourself and build it.

Quite waiting for some parts guy to hand you the answer in a plug and play box. Order up the part numbers given above, assemble it, check clearances and if it works run it. If it doesnt figure out what doesnt fit and order the right part.

Out.

John

 

[gradon]

Go check out mopartsracing/jeepconnection.com. Mopar recommends the p5249464 spring for the p4529230ab cam on the 4.0 head(of course). Yes, this spring is mainly used for 5.2s and 5.9s, but mopar also recommends it on 4.0 applications with cams that have higher lifts. Other people here have used this spring with higher lift cams(Dino is one), so maybe they can chime in. I'm sure Hesco has used that spring as well.

 

[Goatman]

I have those springs, and the Mopar keepers and retainers, on both of my strokers. Those are the recommended springs for higher lift cams in the 4.0L, and plenty of people are running them. It's a no brainer, just get them and install them. You evidently got someone at Mopar Performance that didn't know their own specs.

 

[hanaxj87]

Talked to Bennie at Hesco. He answered all my questions.. They have the springs and retainers that will work ..

The engine rebuild is back on track..

Thank you all for your input.

Nick

 

[justmegsb]

Hello I am running this cam (CompCam 68-232-4) in my 1994 XJ and ran into the same problem as you. I suggest you buy only the cam & lifters from CompCams and do as everyone has said. You will need the correct Mopar parts for the rest of the build (metric vs english sizes). These include: valve springs (5249464), valve retainers (4452032), keepers (4529218) and a Crane bridge shim kit (CRN-99179-1). The valve springs mentioned are matched to the lift of the cam. I purchased all of this from Marsh Performance. If you search the internet you will see others with the same results. I am extremely happy with the torque curve of this cam and am planning to put it in my 1998.