Hi all, I've got a question here for anyone whos assembled Buick heads lately, maybe the experts can give me some advice. I'm fitting a new set of TA 1434 keepers onto new TA 1450 retainers on a set of TA valves from a couple years ago. Using the 1125 dual springs and a 413 cam. Without the spring in there, just test fitting I'm able to rock the retainer back and forth 15* or so, enough that I can see the tops of the keepers separating when it's rocked all the way over. For example, it seems like a 7* keeper in a 10* retainer. uzzled: I just got off the phone with Mike directly and TA had to remachine the retainers to fit the locks, could this be a fitup problem with the machining...if so has anyone else had this problem? I'm going to try and measure the valve keeper groove to make sure it's straight, then try some different locks. but I'm totally stumped for a solution. o No: o No: o No: Am I wrong about throwing a keeper and should just live with it? Is there a machining solution to this? Help!! ou:
Sounds like you have a similar setup to mine. I just bought a 413 cam with TA's keepers, retainers and dual springs. Also got stainless stage 1 valves. I had a machine shop install everything this past week. I now plan on port matching the heads to the intake and will need to pull the valves out. When I called the engine builder to ask to use his spring compressor he told me to make sure and mark all keepers, retainers with matching springs and valves because the keepers left a different installed height on each valve. Granted this guy is a Chevy builder, but he said he never saw a set of keepers that varied so much from valve to valve. He was not happy setting everything up on those heads. Said the parts made it too difficult!! I am no engine pro and never have claimed to be. Just, stating what this pro told me. And that was: "Those parts you brought me fit like S*%T!" I have purchased many parts from TA over the years. Overall, I have been very happy with the parts from them and Poston. Glad I chose to let someone else fight those heads though.
Keepers have no bearing whatsoever on tip height. Only thing they would effect is the spring pressure. My question is, why are they different?? If I ever got a mismatched set of keepers - they would have gone back in a heartbeat. Something doesn't sound right......maybe I'm just missing something.o No:
I did not quote him correct apparantely. He did set them up at a certain spring tension and that is what he was talking about, apparantly. All I know is he told me not to move the keepers from their current valve. The setup would be incorrect if I did. He told me he had never seen keepers vary so much. This person has run a small speed shop for 30 years. Has drag raced for longer than that and builds very expensive engines. That is why I choose him to set these heads up. Like I said, I am no great mechanic. Sorry for the confusion.
Scott, At this point I'm not sure a new set would work. I only have stock sets around to compare to, but I'm seeing a similar (although less) of a problem. Still not sure how to proceed...
John, You may not be far off. I spoke to a local head builder here who did the machining on the heads who told me almost word for word the same thing. Maybe I've got a bad set or the chevy guys get a better fit. I looked at some comparison sets that were dead perfect, no wobble at all, even without the valve in there! Maybe one of the more experienced head builders here can shed some light on this one?
It sounds like there may be a mismatch of components. The keeper and retainer should be a fairly 'solid' fit. Correct this before running these heads.
Looking at mine from the top, the keepers don't fit as well as stock. There is a much more noticeable gap between them. I spoke with the engine builder today again and he told me the main thing was spring tension. He swapped them around to get the best fit and then used shims to correct the problem. He assured me that they would be ok to run on my heads. Guess, I will take his opinion since he is experienced at it and actually fitted them up. Hope you get it worked out.
Thanks Greg, glad to hear it really is a problem. Last night I started going through my bags of stock keepers looking for a good fit. I tested several different sets and finally got a good match with a stock set from some 76 heads that only had 20k on `em. The fit is really solid with JUST the keeper & retainer alone, although the hieghts are off slightly. This casts serious doubt in the new keepers IMO. I couldn't even get my new keepers to fit properly in the stock retainers, on a stock valve! Looking closer, the new retainers are pretty rough, not what I would call finished pieces at all. If anyone knowns who the original manufacturer of these locks is, please shoot me an e-mail, I'd like to have a chat with `em.
