'89 360 LA valve spring/cam confusion

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lopeha

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This will be my powerplant for my '67 Barracuda build. Trying to figure out what valve springs can be used with the 308 heads/hydraulic roller cam combination? Most cams I have found do not list an accompaning valve spring recommendation. It will be a mostly cruiser with the occasional roadtrip & next to no track time. Any & all help will be greatly appreciated!
 
need to know your spring installed height
do you need a locating cup under the spring
are you planning on running roller tip rockers
are these stock length valves or are you running 11/32 or 5/16 chevy valves? (the how heavy is your valve side combination, heavy stock to ligherter valves to Ti :)
or can you use a step up retainer and or keepers
are you thinking of a standard or fast action (Howard agressive or similar) HR how much pressure does the cam mfg want closed and open
are you thinking single spring with damper, dual springs, or beehives?
so you have a HR block or is this a retrofit HR build?
Is the cam a regrind? lift and duration have you picked a cam yet? or are we doing a simulated build then pick a cam that works with the head parts chosen?
what size pushrods?
 
Will try to answer as many as I can. Taking the heads to a shop to be disassemble/cleaned, have the seals & guides checked & have a 3 angle valve job done.
Would like to run the stock rockers & pushrods if possible as do not plan any "hard" use of the motor.
If the stock valves look good may keep them unless going to a 2.02 would be possible.
Have not picked a cam as it & the springs work pretty much together & from what I have been able to peruse the stock springs do not like lift over .450
The short block will be stock bore as it is in very good shape
 
ok we'll figure late roller block 308 head combination 360 stock compression what year are we working with.? Truck auto trans, any other details
basically a stock rebuild daily driver? will have to keep stock base circle on the cam if you want to retain pushrods so no regrinds
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some might give you some suggestions on your valve job
2.02 IMHO take a lot of work to make worthwhile
does your machine shop have a machine that can machine the seats?
if so they can add a top cut and bottom cut at essentially no charge if you are up to some hand blending at the bottom of the cut
you end up with a 5 angle valve job
 
The motor came out of a 1989 350 Dodge Service truck, had Thermoquad on it.Yes 308 heads & stock compression. It will be going into a 1967 Barracuda Fastback with a 904 transmission going through a 7.25 rear axle with 2.94 gear ration. Plan is for it to be a retirement project that I can drive to car shows & the occasional road trip. Will probably forego the 2.02 valves as they aren't really needed for what I have planned. Will just go with a basic 3 angle valve job & a clean up. My biggest question was how much lift can I run with the stock springs ( they will be new), since so far I haven't been able to find any aftermarket springs that are recommended for a specific cam?
 
The Hughes 1110 springs will fit and work on those heads, I believe. They will handle a mild hydraulic roller. Specifics are listed on the Hughes site.
 
Thank You! The information is very good & gives me something to think about
 
what was the donor vin was it a tbi?
what now carb, headers or ?
Im looking at the Elgin catalog
do you have or had rotarors?
several cams available
or just change the timing chain and stay stock and be happy
with that rear gear and stock compression you do not want to go big
Elgin Industries

ps if it says 2011 lifters that may not a HR cam or may be a typo check
 
Not sure of the VIN, got from a friend (free!) who pulled it from a wrecked truck in the early 90's. Had a Thermoquad on it. I plan to have the short block checked/refreshed, the same for the heads. I will use a Streetmaster Eliminator intake, Edelbrock 1406, Trebling exhaust manifold. Main concern is the lack of matching spring/cam combos although I did see a promising setup on the Hughes site.
 
Check with whatever cam supplier you are going to use & ask them about a cam, lifter, & spring combination for you heads.
 
A shop that knows how to set springs and measure installed heights and good cam company can advise what spring loads the cam wants.
 
After alot of thought & research & implementing plain old common sense I looked at what I had & what I wanted to d. This is what I came up with - The heads are at the shop getting cleaned/refreshed. The springs, seats, guides, valves, etc will be checked to be in "spec" & then reassembled. I will have the short block disassembled, cleaned/tanked, checked for being in "spec" then put back together with new cam, rod & main bearings, oil pump. If the cam checks out OK I will just use it which I believe will work just fine in my '67 Barracuda being as light as it is. This will (in my mind) give me a reliable powerplant that I won't be afraid to take anywhere. Thanks to all for the input!
 
Good choice
The Stock HR should be fine with your compression and gears
Easy to change later if not
I'd cut the guides for viton seals while apart
and do measure your spring height and write it down
no rotators? you got lucky
post up your compression after you get it on the road
cheers
check your springs on a spring checker
 
Good choice
The Stock HR should be fine with your compression and gears
Easy to change later if not
I'd cut the guides for viton seals while apart
and do measure your spring height and write it down
no rotators? you got lucky
post up your compression after you get it on the road
cheers
check your springs on a spring checker
Wyrmrider, I am having the heads done by a recommended shop. He will insure everything is as it should be.
 
After alot of thought & research & implementing plain old common sense I looked at what I had & what I wanted to d. This is what I came up with - The heads are at the shop getting cleaned/refreshed. The springs, seats, guides, valves, etc will be checked to be in "spec" & then reassembled. I will have the short block disassembled, cleaned/tanked, checked for being in "spec" then put back together with new cam, rod & main bearings, oil pump. If the cam checks out OK I will just use it which I believe will work just fine in my '67 Barracuda being as light as it is. This will (in my mind) give me a reliable powerplant that I won't be afraid to take anywhere. Thanks to all for the input!

Wyrmrider, I am having the heads done by a recommended shop. He will insure everything is as it should be.

You'll notice I liked your post about keeping basically what you have already.
For your stated purpose for the vehicle I think you made a wise choice.
There will be plenty of other things you can spend the money on.:D
 
Trailbeast, as most know there is never a shortage of places/ways to spend money!
 
Well, got a call from the Head service this morning & of course both heads are cracked at each end. So the search begins for a replacement set, Dangit! Wondering what the normal pathway is - finding a set of 340/360 heads or going with the Magnum head route. The motor is a 89-91 so it has the roller lifter setup that is used by the Magnum motors although it is a LA .
 
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Well, got a call from the Head service this morning & of course both heads are cracked at each end. So the search begins for a replacement set, Dangit! Wondering what the normal pathway is - finding a set of 340/360 heads or going with the Magnum head route. The motor is a 89-91 so it has the roller lifter setup that is used by the Magnum motors.


these are a good choice, available in la or magnum - EngineQuest Chrysler SB LA Magnum
 
The motor came out of a 1989 350 Dodge Service truck, had Thermoquad on it.Yes 308 heads & stock compression. It will be going into a 1967 Barracuda Fastback with a 904 transmission going through a 7.25 rear axle with 2.94 gear ration. Plan is for it to be a retirement project that I can drive to car shows & the occasional road trip. Will probably forego the 2.02 valves as they aren't really needed for what I have planned. Will just go with a basic 3 angle valve job & a clean up. My biggest question was how much lift can I run with the stock springs ( they will be new), since so far I haven't been able to find any aftermarket springs that are recommended for a specific cam?

Just a heads up on your diff, that 360 is going to utterly destroy it. I ruined my 2.76 pegleg 7 1/4 in two years with a little 318, a 600 cfm cheapo summit carb, edelbrock performer and a little lunati 10200701 cam.
 
Just talked to EQ. They still offer SB heads but don't stock them. Will special order.
 
Same friend that gave me the 360 motor had a set of heads off a '76 360. They are at the head service shop now & hoping they will clean up properly with no cracks. If not then the budget will take a hit & will go with a set of EQ heads. Wondering whether the hydraulic roller cam set up will be OK with them or do I make the change to a flat tappet cam?
 
The set I took in yesterday were not useable so will just go the "easy" route & get some reman heads from the local parts house. This way no worries about whthere things will fit & will still provide the power I want. Also plan to budget in a 8 3/4 rear end to better handle the torque of the 360. Have a line on a complete setup for $800.
 
1976 heads will work the hydraulic cam no problem, if set up correctly with the right springs, seat load , open load, check coil bind height
 
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