Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) new valve springs? Will they help

[SteveMiller]

Ok so the general concensus is that if you go up to a 4k gsk you need heavier valve springs. I have a 3k gsk and I'm wondering if there would be any benefit to putting upgraded valve springs on my truck.



The problem with higher RPMs is the EGT's jump since the valve aren't opening and closing quickly enough right? Well at about 2900rpms my engine EGT's jump pretty bad. Everything is fine till there no matter how hard I get on it. I hit 1677 at the track and as many will agree I'm a little concerned about burning up the engine. So I'm wondering if the springs used in the 4k kit would help even though I'm not worried about going up that high?



I realize I could just go with the 4k kit but I dont' see the need and I already have the 3k kit and I'm happy with it but I'd like to shift at 3k rpms without ruining my engine. I also realize that I can keep my foot out of it and not worry about it, which is what I've been doing, but sometimes those little ricers need a lesson. Oo. Or better yet sometimes I just don't pay attention and shift a little late. And other times I pull a trailer and being able to shift and not drop to too low of an rpm is good... Anyway you get the point.



Let me know your thoughts. Also where do people get the springs and about how much do they run?



Thanks

Steve

 

[Deezul1]

I have the 4K GSK and the stock springs as far as I know. It doesnt float the valves till around 3600rpm. I dont go there hardly ever. I am not sure about the heavier springs effecting EGTs, thats a new one on me.

Piers has them for about $55, I havnt checked there in a while. Oops I think that might be for exhaust springs only but check them out

 

[Bob4x4]

You won't see an EGT drop by adding HD valve springs.



Bob

 

[SteveMiller]

That's too bad. I guess that makes sense. As long as the lifters have pressure on them and they stay on the cam springs won't change anything. Guess just wishfull thinking.



I think my main problem is my air filter anyway but I want a scotty II and it seems like they might be on back order forever. If they don't hurry up I'm gonna go get a megacannon.

 

[JGheen]

Yep, as Bob4x4 said, you will not see an EGT drop from the heavier rated valve springs, but you will be able to take the engine to 4000 rpm safely without valve float. But with your EGTs I probably wouldn't do that until you get an AFE intake or find some other way(maybe via bigger turbo)to get the temps down when running over 3000 rpm.

 

[GAmes]

Is that the STOCK plate you have forward?? If it is, you might consider a different plate for EGTs.

 

[JGheen]

Don't know if the stock plate would cause that high of EGTs though, especially since he is running a hybrid HX35/40. I would think that turbo would get his temps down considerably well with how much more air he would be moving than with a stock HX-35.

What boost pressure are you running, Steve? Is the turbine wastegated? What size is it? Have you done any kind of timing adjustment?

 

[HBrunton]

your truck has solid lifters in it.

 

[SteveMiller]

The plate is ground but I feel its pretty good. I probably needed to have it angle back a little steeper at the higher RPM's. I've been thinking about it and looking into it and I think my problem is my air filter. Its still got a stock air box and the filter minder gets pegged as soon as I get on it a little. My boost is 35 ish (high of 38) but I think the turbo is just working too hard to move the air. I'm trying to get a scotty but it seems like they aren't making any at the moment. The waste gate is not operational and I'm running a 12cm2 which I know is also not helping matters. I plan on hooking the waste gate up again as soon I get an elbow to control when it opens. I've been thinking about getting a 14cm housing but I may just go to twins instead. We'll see. Mainly I was trying to come up with ideas to lower EGTs far enough that I don't get crazy in my daily commute. In my normal driving I'll hit about 1350. If I can drop that to 1200-1250 I'll be happy till I can do more with it.



Thanks



P. S. My truck is in pieces with no transmission in it at the moment. So no worries at the moment the EGT's aren't getting very high at all. I got the wrong clutch so I'm now waiting for the right one to get here.

 

[JGheen]

Well, now I can see why your EGTs are considerably high.



1. - Your running the stock air box. Get an AFE intake and that should bring them down some. It did on mine.



2. - Go to the 14cm2 WG turbine housing and set your wastegate to open at around 35-40#.



3. - Being your located a mile high, adjust you timing to at least 16* and that will definately bring them down.



Any of these upgrades should bring your EGTs down pretty noticably. Let me know how things turn out after you get your clutch all finished.

 

[SteveMiller]

Isn't advancing timing bad if you pull heavy alot? I heard that it takes away from low end torque. Maybe that's for my dramatic timing changes?



How much of a turbo lag did you notice when you went to the 14cm2? I know I have to do something but I don't want a doggy truck off the line. Of course I have to do something pretty soon. I'm giving Wildkatz till the end of the week when I get my truck back together to come up with a scotty and then I'll go with something else.



Do you have an idea of how much your AFE dropped your EGT's? I hear mostly about the megacannons and the scottys but is the AFE's as good or better?



Thanks alot

Steve

 

[JGheen]

Isn't advancing timing bad if you pull heavy alot? I heard that it takes away from low end torque. Maybe that's for my dramatic timing changes?



How much of a turbo lag did you notice when you went to the 14cm2? I know I have to do something but I don't want a doggy truck off the line. Of course I have to do something pretty soon. I'm giving Wildkatz till the end of the week when I get my truck back together to come up with a scotty and then I'll go with something else.



Do you have an idea of how much your AFE dropped your EGT's? I hear mostly about the megacannons and the scottys but is the AFE's as good or better?



Thanks alot

Steve

I never heard anyone say that adjusting the timing is not recommended for people towing. Maybe someone will chime in with a contradiction to this, but all the threads I have read about people towing and running at high altitudes w/ high EGT issues have bumped their timing to at least 16*. Maybe I am wrong but I wouldn't see how it would be an issue.

When I went to the 14cm2 turbine, I really didn't notice any difference in spool up. Adding the extra fuel I did when I went to that turbine really didn't show any worse lag than before. When I did my unpgrade I basically went from completely stock to what I have now, so I really couldn't tell. I backed off my AFC star wheel a good amount as well, so all the pre-boost fuel helped in the spool up.

After running the AFE for a couple of weeks after i got it, I wuld have to say that it dropped EGTs to about 50-100* less than with the stock air box. Junking that stock box helped that turbo bring in a lot more air at a lot easier rate than trying to pull it through that little duct in the fender.